Where Do Lions Live?

The majestic lion has been named the king of the jungle. His regal look when he stands and surveys the plains that are his hunting grounds is like a king looking out over his kingdom. There are only two species of lions left in existence today. There were originally four species that roamed the Earth, but sadly two have passed into history as they've become extinct. The Barbary Lion, the largest of all lions and the Cape Lion are both now extinct. All that we have left are the African lion and the Asiatic Lion and, even worse, the population of the Asiatic lion is dwindling rapidly.

The African Lion is found primarily in the eastern and southern region of the African continent. Their northern border is the Sahara Desert. Though they are known as the King of the Jungle, they actually don’t live in the jungle. They live in plains, savannahs, grasslands and lightly wooded areas that are near rivers. The greatest concentration of lions is in the southern regions of the continent.

The Asiatic Lion is found exclusively in the Gir National Forest of India. This is the last region that has wild Asiatic Lions inhabitants and is an important answer to the question of where do lions live.

Lions in the World

There are only approximately 23,000 African Lions and about 300 Asiatic Lions still in existence as of 2010. Only a century ago, it is estimated that there were over 100,000. The rapid decline of the lion populations has been primarily caused by the encroachment of humans into their living spaces. The increase of human population and its development have directly reduced the lion population. If you add to this the extensive poaching and unwarranted killing of lions by farmers, it is no wonder that the lions are headed towards extinction.

Lion Living Habits

The lion seeks out lairs for bearing and rearing their young. The young cubs stay with the mother for about 2 years.  At this time, the males will leave the pride and wander until they can join another pride. Males are excluded from their maternal pride.

Males have a distinctive mane around their heads and some extend under the shoulders. The mane is light brown to dark brown, with a mixture of colors being present.

Within the pride, the females perform most of the hunting. The grasslands and savannahs allow the lions to hunt as they are used to, which not all landscapes allow. Due to their lack of excessive speed (lions run only 25 mph with bursts of up to 50 mph) they rely on being able to sneak up on their prey before they spring the attack.

The attacks are coordinated between the females of the pride. They circle the herd and single out a weak or young member, then strike. The attack is swift and decisive. By creeping up to within about 100 feet of the selected prey, they are able to attack quickly and subdue the animal. They would not be able to hunt in this manner if they were living in dense jungle or in forests.

Visiting Lions

Some of both of the existing types of lions are kept around the world in zoos for the public to see.

Safaris, another way in which people could see lions, were also a popular thing of the past eras and they continue today. The object today though, is entirely different. In the past, those on a safari were intent on finding and killing animals that they could then have stuffed. These made them feel like they were mighty hunters, but these safaris of the past are an example of the mentality and practice that has brought so many species of animals to the brink of extinction.

Today, those on a safari are still intent on finding some of the same beautiful animals, but in this case, they are being shot with cameras only. This method of safari helps to ensure that these animals will continue to exist for our descendents to view and appreciate.