Fun, Cool Lion Facts for Kids

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  • Scientific name for a lion is Panthera Leo.
  • Lions are the 2nd largest cat species on the world. Tigers are number 1.
  • Lion’s are known as king of the jungle, but they really don’t live in jungles.
  • Lions mostly live in the grasslands, savanna and open woodlands of Africa but they also live in the Gir Forest in India.
  • Lions are social animals. They often rub their heads together with other lions and purr to eachother.
  • They live in prides. A pride isa group of lions.
  • A pride usually consists of 15-30 lions, however they can be as small as 3 lions or as big as 40 lions.
  • A male lion is called a lion.
  • A female lion is called a lioness.
  • A baby lion is called a cub.
  • You can tell the males and females apart by how they look.  A male lion has a mane and a female does not.
  • A males mane will begin to grow at 18 months and will continue to grow until they are 5.
  • A male lion can weigh between 400-500 pounds and sometimes more.
  • A female lion can weigh 290-350 pounds.
  • Lions are carnivorous animals – meaning they eat meat.
  • Some of the animals they eat are zebras, giraffes, Rhino’s, Hippos, Deer and other herd animals.
  • The female lions are the hunters. They usually hunt at dusk or at night.
  • The female lion will bring the food back to the pride.  The male will eat first than the females and last the cubs.
  • While the female hunts the male protects the territory and pride.
  • A lion can runs at speeds up to 50 miles per hour but not for long distances.
  • When a lion walks their heels do not touch the ground.
  • Unlike other cats lions are great swimmers.
  • A lion’s roar can be heard as far as 5 miles away!
  • Lions rest for up to 20 hours a day.
  • Remember Simba from Disney’s Lion King?  Did you know that the Swahili (a language in Africa)word for Lion is Simba!
  • A mother lion gives give to 1-4 cubs every 2 years.
  • Some cubs don’t live because they starve or get eaten.
  • Some animals that eat cubs are eagles, snakes, hyenas and leopards.
  • Lions usually live 12-15 years in the wild and 20-25 years in captivity.

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