Chester Zoo 

Asiatic Lion

Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions, with shorter, thinner manes, but they have a longer dark tuft at the end of the tail and thicker tufts of fur at their elbows. They also have a fold of skin which runs the length of their belly. Males are larger than females which don’t have manes. Their body coats are short and of a goldish, tawny brown colour which is paler on their undersides.

What they eat

Deer, antelope, wild boar, buffalo.

How long they live

16-18 years

Biology

Female lions live together in prides and males compete to be the dominant male of each pride. Fights between males can be bloody and even result in the death of the losing animal. Males reach sexually maturity at about five years old and if they have taken over a pride from another male they will commonly kill the previous male’s cubs before breeding with the females. Females reach sexual maturity at about four years old and will have a litter of up to six cubs, which can be dependent on their mothers for about 16 months. The females care for the young, sharing responsibility between the pride, with cubs often suckling from other females than their own mother. Females also do most of the hunting for food, working together in a team to bring down their prey.

Did you know?

Even though these lions are not protected by the Indian government, fears for their future are growing. Unless a way can be found to breed a separate group of Asiatic lions in the wild, other than those in the Gir Forest, researchers are afraid the odds are mounting that they may soon be wiped out completely by the onset of disease or an environmental disaster. With this in mind a wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has been earmarked as a possible site for establishing a new population.