subject: Meet the King of Beasts on a Uganda Safari [print this page] Meet the King of Beasts on a Uganda Safari
Are you on a Uganda safari or interested in taking one? Make it a point to visit the lion in its habitat. The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250kg (550lb) in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. The lion, a magnificent animal that is also called King of Beasts is on everybody's list of animals to see. This fascination is no doubt due to the size and awesome power of this large cat, and its hunting prowess.
Lions are the only true social cats, with related females living together in prides and males forming coalitions that compete for possession of these prides in fierce battles. Mature male lions are unique among the cat species for the thick mane of brown or black hair encircling the head and neck. Both male and female lions roar, a sound which can be heard as far as 8 kilometers away.
These magnificent beasts are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Lions are predatory carnivores, with females performing most of the hunting. The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of thirty to fifty percent over the past two decades in its African range. Lion populations are untenable outside designated reserves and national parks. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the greatest causes of concern.
Lions live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. Lions are apex and keystone predators, although they scavenge as opportunity allows. While lions do not typically hunt humans, some have been known to do so.
So visit the lion in its habitat on Uganda safari Game Viewing Tours in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo National Parks and explore the mysteries of the king of beasts.
