How Do Lions Adapt to Their Environment
We may see lions in circuses, wildlife reserves or zoos, but the environment best suited to the "king of the jungle" is the jungle itself. Sadly, with rampant deforestation, poaching and rapid urbanization, the habitat of lions is shrinking and so are their numbers. Thankfully, owing to the enforcement of stringent, wildlife preservation laws and the painstaking efforts of wildlife photographers and researchers, we now have the opportunity to learn more about lions and how those that remain adapt to their environment.
Almost all members of the cat family live solitary lives, but not lions. Brock Vereen Jersey Unlike leopards, panthers or tigers, lions are pseudo social by nature and live in groups, popularly referred to as "prides." This group living social behavior can be compared to that of elephants. Although adult males are distinctly larger than their female counterparts, it is the lionesses that are more visible and the subject of primary focus. This is because they are the predominant, hunters in the pride and also play a major role in rearing of their offspring.
Lionesses reach reproductive stage a little before they are 4 years old, while mating is not confined to any particular period of the year as they are polyestrous. Females usually mate with the dominant male in the pride, although when in heat, it is not uncommon for them to mate with other males. The mating process can extend over several days, with frequency of copulation anywhere between 20 to 40 times daily. A litter generally consists of 1 to 4 cubs following a gestation period of approximately 4 months. Lionesses usually give birth away from the pride, in secluded areas such as caves or thickets. The mother will not introduce her cubs to the pride for about 6 to 8 weeks after birth, and will hunt alone during this time.
Unfortunately, once cubs are integrated into the pride, dominant behavior by older cubs, especially at feeding time, often leads to the cubs dying of starvation. Moreover, owing to fierce competition over food in the wild, it is believed that 80 percent of them will perish well before they reach 2 years of age. Integration into the pride is also fraught with danger, although new cubs usually adapt well and interact in a playful manner with other older males, females and their cubs. The danger often stems from the reigning dominant male who may kill or expel cubs that are the progeny of the ousted, earlier dominant male. This occurs because females are neither receptive nor fertile up to the time their cubs either die or attain maturity.
Although females are the main hunters, ousted or injured males often hunt alone and lead nomadic lives. During hunting or simply wandering, lions will either use their paws to demarcate their territory (or by spraying urine). Quiet stalking and guile is adopted while hunting, aided by their keen sense of sight, smell and hearing. The lion's coat of golden brown also acts as an excellent camouflage, blending well with their surroundings. In a hot, sweltering environment, lions reduce their body temperature by resting, in a sprawled manner, under dense foliage or trees. Females expelled from a pride have a more difficult time adapting to the environment and have significantly less www.officialbearsnflauthentic.com/authentic-brock-vereen-jersey.html chances of survival.
As awareness and the concern to Will Sutton Kids Jersey preserve lions grows, and the fact that more lions are bred in captivity than in the wild, there is a glimmer Will Sutton Jersey of hope that these magnificent cats can, and will, be preserved for posterity.
Lions are social so they live in prides made up of females and their cubs as well as dominant males. . Mountain Lions. . The lion, a large species.