The lion is a predator from the feline family, the second-largest cat-like group. The lion is most common in the African continent but also in the state of Gujarat in India. It feeds on various herbivores it hunts. It’s also considered as a symbol of heroism and power in human culture, hence the nickname, “King of Animals.”

Its life expectancy in the wild is between 12 and 18 years, but it can live up to 30 years in captivity. An adult lion is about 3.30 meters long, has a shoulder height of about 1.2 meters, and can weigh up to 260 kg. It’s most common in the prairie, grove, and open woodlands.

A male lion’s territory is roughly 5 miles squared, but the exact size of the territory varies. Lions are often found in savannas and grasslands where they prey upon antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, buffalos, and other herbivores.

A female lion, also known as a lioness, produces a litter consisting of 2-4 cubs that will remain under her care for up to 2 years. After that time, the mother may mate again and produce another litter or move on from the area. Male lions don’t appear in a female’s young life until they are around 2 years old.

The gestation period for a lion is around 110 days. Cubs are born blind but begin to see when they are around 2 weeks old and open their ears soon. When the cubs are 6-8 weeks old, the mother lion teaches them to hunt with her. Lions usually live up to 12 years in the wild because prey is scarce, and their biggest threat, humans, primarily hunt them. In captivity, lions can live up to 30 years old.