Everything you need to know about lions
In the aftermath of Cecil the Lion's death, many are seizing the opportunity to raise awareness for the quickly disappearing population of big felines in the wild.
National Geographic is supporting crucial conservation efforts through their Big Cats Initiative... Crucial, because in 2014, there were an estimated 34,000 lions in Africa, down from 250,000 in 1975. Now, animal lovers the world over are clamoring to protect these beloved creatures before their numbers dip any lower.
In December 2015, the Obama administration even placed the majestic felines under the protection of the Endangered Species Act, classifying lions from central and West Africa as endangered and lions from southern and East Africa as threatened. Wayne Pacelle, the head of the U.S. Humane Society, one of five conservation groups that petitioned to have the lion listed, told the New York Times that he believed the killing of Cecil was "a defining moment" which galvanized public attention.
Lion numbers down
About 70 percent of the lion population lives in 10 stronghold regions in Africa.
According to NatGeo, "The loss of these majestic predators could create a devastating impact on our ecosystem; losing them means not only loss of keystone species but destruction of the natural balance affecting entire environmental systems, including people."
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
The predator has a predator
Whether it's for trophy hunting or tribal rituals, lions still are hunted by man. These days, lions are protected by law in most places they're found, yet they're still being killed.
The most famous case is Cecil the Lion, who was living in Hwange Game Reserve in Zimbabwe. Cecil was drawn out from a sanctuary of the park and killed by an illegal party of big game hunters on July 1, 2015.
The hunter who killed the lion was identified by conservation groups as American Dr. Walter James Palmer, a dentist in Minneapolis. Palmer allegedly paid $50,000 to hunt the animal. He is currently under investigation by U.S. Fish and Wildlife, while the Zimbabwe government wants him extradited.
Their biggest threat: Americans
From 1999 to 2008, Americans were responsible for bringing home 64 percent of all African lions killed purely for sport, according to a report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Not really kings of the jungle
Lions are one of the most beloved and admired creatures on Earth, but the jungle isn't really their thing. They actually live only in grasslands and plains, so their nickname is sort of inaccurate.
They used to live in Europe
Lions are only found in the wilds in Africa, but the felines have called many places home. Lions used to live in ancient Greece, the Balkans and parts of southern Russia. According to Herodotus and Aristotle, lions were in Greece around 480 B.C., became endangered in 300 B.C. and finally became extinct in Ancient Greece in 100 B.C.
They're prideful
Lions are the only feline species that live together in groups, better known as "prides." A pride is usually made up of 10 to 15 lions that include males, females and their cubs.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
Lions can run 50 mph
These awesome cats can run as fast as 50 mph and leap up to 36 feet. Because of their lack of stamina, lions can only reach top speeds in short bursts.
Their roar can travel
A lion's roar is used to signal position to other prides, so it must be extremely loud. You can even hear a lion's roar from five miles away.
Their claws are no joke
Of course, lions possess extremely sharp claws. And (just like the claws on house cats) they're retractable, which helps prevent injury while playing. A lion's claws can reach lengths of up to 1.5 inches.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
They have teeth like scissors
That's some serious slicing power. But lions don't actually chew their food. Lions swallow their meat in large chunks, while using only one side of their mouths.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
They love a good nap
Lions sleep a lot...as in 20 hours a day. With very few sweat glands, lions tend to rest during the day to conserve energy. They become more active at night when the temperature has cooled.
So, the classic song, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," actually has it sort of backwards.
The tail is for more than looks
The tail serves a key purpose for the big cat. The lion is the only member of the cat family with a tufted tail, which is used to communicate to other members of the pride. Messages vary from directional commands to flirtatious signals.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
Lionesses do the hunting
Lionesses, not male lions, do the majority of hunting for their prides. Lionesses hunt around 90 percent of the time, while the males protect their pride.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
They love to rub
Male and female lions greet each other with rubs. The rubs are so forceful that sometimes one of the lions will be floored by the impact. The act of rubbing is the lions' way of bonding. Like house cats, lions leave their scent on each other to exhibit ownership.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
They're serious about cubs
When a lioness is in heat, she and her male companion will mate every 15 minutes for days on end. That means the lions are able to mate several hundred times over that period.
They've got night eyes
Lions are six times more sensitive to light than humans, which gives them incredible vision at night.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
They are not pets
Tippi Hendren, mother of fellow actress Melanie Griffith, had a pet lion in their Sherman Oaks, Calif. house in 1971. Hendren, an animal rights activist, now regrets her decision to keep the ferocious beast in her home.
During the filming of the movie Roar, Griffith suffered a serious clawing to her face, which required reconstructive surgery for the teenager.
They're called kings for a reason
Lions usually weigh around 330 to 550 pounds, while lionesses weigh between 265 to 395 pounds. The heaviest lion ever recorded weighed an incredible 826 pounds.
National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative is a long-term effort to halt the decline of these big cats in the wild.
MGM keeps them employed
One of the most famous lions in pop culture is MGM's mascot lion. Since 1917, there have been a total of seven different lions used by MGM. The current mascot is named Leo the Lion, who has been used by MGM since 1957.
They've lived in hotels
Opened in 1999, the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas was home to its own lion habitat. The environment was a $9 million, 5,000 square foot, glass-encased structure for 20 lions who rotated in and out. But the MGM Grand closed its doors to the habitat in 2011. The lions were moved to an 8.5-acre ranch outside of Las Vegas called The Cat House.
