Asiatic Lion – Endangered Big Cat
Posted in Wildlife A-Z | December 21, 2010 | Comment NowWhen it comes to the regal animals of the earth, the Asiatic Lion is one subspecies of the Lion’s extant that comes to mind. These animals are relatively smaller than their African cousins. The one difference that is noticeable will be the fact that there is a fold of skin that runs down the belly of the Asian lion, which is not really present in the case of African lions.
Measuring Up:
The adult lion can reach a measure of up to about 8 feet in body and head length. Their tails along can reach a measure of about 3 feet. The females are smaller than their male counterparts. While the male lions can weigh up to about 550 lb, the females might go up to about 400 lb.
Furry Big Cats:
The fur on these magnificent animals is tan in color; and this works as a great camouflage for them in the light grasses of the savanna. The mane on the males could vary in color, from light to dark brown. You could also see black on some of them. The mane on the Asiatic lion is said to be shorter than that of the African lion, and this is what enables for their ears to be seen.
Habitat and More:
The Asiatic lion is said to prefer grassy plains and open woodlands for its habitat. They are very social animals and they tend to live in ‘prides’ (groups). These kings of the jungle are primarily nocturnal by nature, and they spend most of their day resting. They will generally prey on medium to large sized mammals like gazelles, zebras, hippos, young elephants and rhinos.
Breeding and Gestation:
The breeding season is said to be lined alongside the onset of winter. The months of October and November are the times when it is most likely to happen. The gestation period of the Asiatic lioness is pitted at around 3.5 months. The lionesses are said to breed about every 2 years and they’re said to be ready to be mating when they reach the age of about 30 months. The life expectancy of the average lion is said to be about 20 to 30 years.
Asiatic Lions – Today:
In India, there is only one pocket left in the Gir National Park of Gujarat that can boast of being home to the Asiatic Lion. There have been plans that were made to try and relocate a smaller part of the surviving population to other parks around the country, so that there were higher chances of ensuring survival of this dying breed. However, these plants have not yet swung into action.
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