Africa: wildlife. The animal world is the lions of Africa

A huge, second largest continent (after Eurasia) on Earth. Its area is 29.2 million square kilometers, with islands - 30 million square kilometers. This is 6% of the entire earth's surface and 20.4% of the land. There are 55 states on the African continent, its population exceeds a billion people.

Wild nature of Africa: lions

The animal world of this vast continent is very diverse. However, the common king of animals is a lion. There is no doubt about this. It is enough to look at this powerful and proud animal. Interestingly, the native Africans honored the lions of this title also for the fact that they can watch the sun for a very long time without blinking. Although many of the cat breeds have this ability.

Lions of Africa have a bright and expressive appearance - the commanding gaze, the position of the head, the luxurious mane indicate the power of this giant.

The growth of an adult male reaches one meter, and weight - two hundred kilograms. The female is more graceful and graceful - her weight rarely exceeds one hundred and forty kilograms.

Animals of Africa: lion - features, external signs

This is the only representative of the feline, having a mane. Only males possess it, from which it begins to grow from about two years ago. A five-year-old king of beasts can reach a length of twenty-four centimeters.

The mane of a lion is an indicator of the health of an animal. According to her condition, a specialist can determine the presence of any disease, and even the mood of the beast. The tail of the predator is also impressive - long, thin and extremely strong, with a tassel at the end. The wool of the lions is short, yellowish-sand colored on the back. On the sides it is lighter.

Habitat

At present, African lions inhabit the whole continent, except for the valley of the lower Nile. These are very strong and hardy predators, second only to tigers. Lions of Africa prefer to settle in open spaces, where there are many reservoirs and there is an opportunity to hunt for ungulates.

The territory that is occupied by one family is strictly limited. But everything that is on it belongs only to these lions - from the blade of grass to the tree.

Lifestyle

It is very interesting to observe the wild world of Africa. Lions attract researchers by building "relationships" in the family. This is really an interesting point. Lions of Africa live pride (large families). Such a family can number from twenty to thirty individuals. Among them there may be three to four adult males, as many females, and also their offspring - young lions and lions. The family is headed by an old and wise leader.

Pride laws are simple enough and understandable - do not offend lions, sleep much and hunt only in case of emergency, i.e. when the food comes to an end. Leo will never go out hunting, as long as he has at least some kind of food.

It should be noted that in the lion family there is no strict distribution to the "breadwinner" and "housewife". In the savannah, females often hunt, and the male protects the family. True, most often it comes down to a lazy half-dozing, in the shade of a tree - he is not looking for enemies, he attacks only those who openly hunt his territory in front of him. From time to time he produces a menacing roar, which is distributed ten kilometers. This is a preventive measure - the king of animals notifies the district that the territory is busy.

It should be noted that the female did not just take on the responsibility for the production of food. Too large and noticeable are males - it is extremely difficult for them to get close to the victim in the savanna unnoticed. In forest areas, a male goes on a hunt.

Reproduction

Pregnancy female African lion lasts from one hundred to one hundred and ten days. Shortly before the birth, the lioness leaves the pride. The female does not leave her offspring for six weeks. Three to five lions are born, with a weight not more than two kilograms. They are blind and completely helpless. They open their eyes on the tenth day, the first incompetent steps they make on the twentieth day.

Lioness goes hunting, leaving the kids alone. To smell other predators could not detect the lion, the female several times a month passes into another lair.

When the kids turn 1.5 months old, a caring mother leads the lion to a large family. Milk of the mother of the lion cubs feed for up to six months. An interesting observation is that the lioness treats her offspring differently. Mothers love females more than males. When the father perishes in the pride, the other male destroys all his sons. In this case, the lioness can remain completely indifferent. But she will never give a damn about the females. Such severe laws dictate wild Africa. Lions who have reached two or three years of age are expelled from pride. Females will always remain with their mother.

Males begin an independent life, creating their own families, or adjoining another pride. There are often cases when they spend the rest of their lives living alone or creating a couple.

Hunting

Lions of Africa - strong and formidable predatory animals. Unlike other large cats, they have a calm character. In the daytime they rest in the shade of trees, and hunt in the twilight. As already mentioned, in the savanna hunt lionesses. Small animals they eat right there, and large prey are carried to the family.

All pride members always eat together, and sick and injured animals get their share of meat on a par with healthy ones. If you managed to catch a large enough animal, then the lions do not go out hunting until they eat the last piece. At this time, alongside predators, a herd of antelopes can graze, but large cats do not pay the slightest attention to them.