Lion
(Panthera Leo)
- Weight Males over 180kg | Females around 45kg
- Breeding 3-4 Cubs (Born at irregular intervals)
- Gestation 3 ½ Months
- Longevity 18 Years in Wild much longer in captivity
Lions are well established and plentiful in the South Luangwa National Park.
They are the only gregarious cats, and normally will occupy a well defined territory. The size of that territory and the number of lions in the pride will vary according to how favourable conditions are for their survival, especially regarding the abundance of prey.
At one time several lionesses can produce cubs and they will share
the feeding. A cub’s chance of survival is pretty low, with only
20% 
of cubs surviving to maturity.
Lion are fully grown at the age of four. However, before this time male cubs are evicted and go off to live a nomadic existence, unwanted in anybody’s territory. It is at this stage that they are not efficient hunters and many cannot survive and die without the collective hunting pattern of the pride.
If one of the Lions is incapable of fending for itself, the other lions will not bring food to one another. This means that any weak members of a pride will starve.
After some years the dominant males are replaced by other powerful contenders thus ensuring the introduction of new genetic material into the pride’s gene pool.
In the South Luangwa Valley the main prey for Lions are the Buffalo, particularly in the dry season. However, like all predators, Lion are opportunist hunters and will kill whatever comes along. Compared to leopard and wild dog, and contrary to popular belief, lion are not efficient hunters.
Due to their communal hunting methods and even if only one in eight attempts is productive, they ultimately end up with a kill. They are in fact a very successful species and are in no way endangered; provided their habitat remains intact and contains sufficient prey for them to survive.
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