: May 2015
Asiatic lion
STATUS
Endangered
SIZE
Weight: Male 160–190kg; Female 110–120kg.
Length (head and body): Male 170–250cm; Female 140–175cm. The largest Asiatic Lion on record measured 2.9m from nose to tail-tip.
Shoulder height: Male 100–123cm; Female 80–107cm.
AGE
Females live on average 17–18 years whilst males live for around 16 years. In captivity, they can live up to 30 years.
HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
Dry scrubland and open deciduous forest habitats. This species used to be found across the whole of Northern Africa, south west Asia and northern Greece. Today, there are only around 350 individuals left, found only in the Gir forest reserve in Gujarat, northern India. There are plans to reintroduce some to a reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
WHAT THEY EAT
These are carnivorous animals and will feed on almost any animal from rodents through to large ungulates. However, larger animals such as deer, antelope, wild boar, and buffalo form the largest part of their diet. An adult female lion needs about 5kg of meat per day, a male about 7kg but they can gorge up to twice this amount when food is scarce.