Lion

Lion at Wingham Wildlife Park

Lion Natural History

Size

The Lion is the world’s second largest cat species reaching lengths of 8 feet (250 cm) and weighing as much as 690 lbs (313 Kg). However, even though it is not the largest it stands 4 feet (123 cm) at the shoulder which makes it the tallest living cat, measuring 5.5 inches (14 cm) taller than the Tiger.

Habitat and Distribution

These cats live in dry areas such as savannah and dry scrub forests. They are found in much of sub-Saharan Africa and there is a small population of Asian Lions left in the Gir Forest National Park of India.

Age

Lions can live for 10-14 years in the wild but in captivity they can live up to 25 years. This species usually reaches maturity between 3-5 years.

Diet

These are powerful predators which will feed on a variety of prey species including Wildebeest, Impala, Zebra, Buffalo, Wild Boar, Springbok, Eland and Kudu.

Threats

The Lion is considered to be a vulnerable species due to its massive historical population decline. It is thought that just over the last 2 decades their population has decreased by as much as 50%. The range which they live in has also significantly decreased with some of the countries in which it is now extinct including Greece, Turkey and Iran.

Groups and Breeding

Lions are the most social of the wild cat species living in prides of up to 6 females, a single adult male and the offspring of the adult females. Male Lions are also often found in bachelor groups called coalitions, which may number 2 to 6 individuals, with this sort of group being an unstable relationship. Females usually breed from the age of around 4 years giving birth to up to 4 cubs after a 110 day gestation period.

The Lions During Your Day Out in Kent

Our two male lions came to live at Wingham Wildlife Park in 2011. The brothers were rescued from a French circus where they were very badly treated. Clarence has a very obvious scar on his hip and one eye darker than the other from a blunt force trauma to the head which caused his inner eyelid to permanently close. These are just some of the scars we can see. They have come a very long way from what they were like when they first arrived and didn’t even want to explore the outside of their new home having always lived in a tiny cage and not felt the grass under their own four paws. However, with a lot of patience and encouragement from our team they soon started to explore their new, safe and permanent home here at WWP.

Clarence and Brutus lived together in an enclosure on the far side of our 1 acre lake for around 10 years but sadly Brutus passed away in November 2022 due to lung cancer. We are being asked how we plan to move forwards in our care of Clarence, will he get a girlfriend? etc. Right now, all we want to do is spoil Clarence with attention, enrichment and treats, all of which we have in plentiful supply and we will continue to monitor him. Clarence is an elderly lion who has lived his entire life with his brother, Brutus and it would be ill advised to rush into putting another lion in with him.

Clarence’s diet is mostly made up from horse meat, chicken and rabbit all on the bone and are fed extra during the winter so that he can bulk up and keep warm. They also get supplements on their meat to boost their minerals and vitamins.

The more you know…

Want to know more about this animal? Check out our keeper blogs about them here.

HAIR

Claws

Clever Cats

Enjoying my new role as Head of Training

Lions- a tribute to Brutus

Training

What Big Teeth You Have