LION

Shoulder height: 40-48 inches (100-120 cm)

Body length:  including tail, 8-1/2 to 10 feet (260-305 cm)

Weight: 350-500 pounds (160-225 kg)

Max age: 8 years is considered as old

 

LIONESS

Shoulder height: 38-42 inches (97-107 cm)

Body length:  including tail, 7-9 feet (215-275 cm)

Weight: 265-375 pounds (120-170 kg)

 

NATURAL HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION

Lions can be found throughout Africa south of the Sahara down to South Africa.

The lion’s habitats are grassland, savannas and bush land.

 

BEHAVIOR

Lions have a large home range but are not territorial. They are social and live in brides (family groups) consisting of females and their young and one to two adult males. Adult males are seldom solitary and form bachelor groups. Lions can bread throughout the year. After a gestation period of around 110 days they usually have 3-4 cups.  Lions are sexually mature at the age of 4 years.

Lions tend to test during the day and are inactive for up to 20 hours of daytime. Hunting usually takes place in late afternoons and at night. Lions are ambush predators; they surprise their prey and overwhelm it with a quick burst of speed and a powerful attack.  Common Lions prey is Warthogs, Antelopes, Giraffes and Buffaloes.

 

THE HUNT

Lion trophy hunting evokes a big controversy between hunting and non-hunting parties since this specie is known for declining numbers in some areas. Lions are heavily threatened by unplanned settlement and farming close by or in Lion habitat. Furthermore excessive poaching is an additional threat. 

The sustainable hunting of wild Lions by trophy hunters with quotas given by nature conservation authorities has shown to be the key conservation tool to give these animals a serious monetary value generating money for communities close to Lion habitat. Funds that go directly from trophy hunting to the people suffering from interactions with lions close to their homes, help to pay back and generate tolerance for this animals in these communities.

On the other hand, the breeding of lions on Southern Africa’s Game Farms and their sustainable use has generated a much-needed gene pool for future wildlife conservation efforts and cannot be compared in numbers with the conservational efforts of western Zoos.

Wherever the sandy soil allows it Lions can be hunted by tracking them. In rocky and hard-bottomed areas baiting or calling is the most common hunting technique. A caliber like 9,3 x 62 or 375 with soft point ammunition is recommended.