subject: Facts about the King of the Jungle [print this page] Facts about the King of the Jungle Facts about the King of the Jungle
This great and famous feline is the second largest cat after the tiger. Its scientific name is Panthera Leo. It earned the name, the King of the Jungle because of its might, strength, beauty and confidence. They are the only social animals in the cat family. They live in groups of about fifteen females, their young ones and up to three males. The female cubs once they mature just stay in the group and continue it while the males go out to look for other groups to join. In a single group, all the females are related.
The lions are purely carnivores and they feed on the meat of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, impalas, buffaloes and other smaller animals if they catch them. The Lionesses are the ones who do all the hunting for the family. Once they catch a prey, they call the other lions and share with them. They are nocturnal and hunt mostly early in the morning and late evening when the sun is not too hot. They also take advantage of their good eyesight at night and hunt down big animals such as buffaloes.
The male lion is territorial. It marks off its territory with urine, roaring to warn off strangers and fighting anyone whom dares come to its territory. Male lions do not stay in a group for long. The longest is about three years as other males come and fight them off and take over the pride. It therefore goes and looks for another pride to forcefully take over. Due to the constant fighting, male lions do not live for more than ten years.
