10 cool reasons to save lions
For all of their roaring, growling, and ferociousness, lions are family animals and social in their own communities. Here are just a few of the reasons these big cats need our help.
Best Hair
TOP PREDATORS
Every species is important to the health of an ecosystem. Removing one species can weaken a habitat, but if a keystone species is removed, an entire ecosystem could collapse. If large predators such as lions disappeared, herd populations would balloon, and grazers would eat up the grass. The savanna would become a sandy desert.
EPIC NAPPERS
Lions spend about two to three hours hunting, one hour eating, and a full 20 hours sleeping every day!
STREET SMART
They’ve got street (well, savanna) smarts. To be successful, lions must outsmart their prey. So they memorize every inch of their hundred-square-mile territories. They store detailed, 3-D maps in their brains, like in a video game. They know the location of their prey’s favorite hangouts, watering holes, and worn paths. Lions can easily recall the best lookout points in their territory and the best spots to launch an ambush.
NINJA-LIKE
They’re the ninjas of the animal kingdom, masters of the stealth approach. Their padded feet make barely a sound on soft grass and sand. And their tan-colored coats blend into their natural habitat. A lion’s prey almost never sees it coming until it’s too late.
NIGHT VISION
Lions can see six times better in the dark than humans! They have a reflective layer of cells at the back of their eyes. Light from the moon or stars hits the cells and bounces forward, like a car’s headlights. Animals and surroundings appear brighter in the dark.
GOOD APPETITES
Lions are not picky eaters. They are opportunistic hunters and will eat any nearby animal if they’re hungry enough. They’ll eat anything from birds (including ostriches) to whale carcasses that wash up on Africa’s beaches.
TEAM PLAYERS
Lions hunt in groups, improving their chances of success against larger prey. Group hunts are carefully orchestrated events. For example, each lioness takes on a different role. Some lions act as “wings” by fanning out and circling prey on long stalks. The “center” position carefully stays put until the wings drive the prey their way. Then they attack.
THEY RULE
ENDANGERED
Lions are becoming rarer. There are only an estimated 35,000 African lions and just 400 Asiatic lions left in the wild. They are being driven out of their habitats by hunters, poachers, and human encroachment. See how you can help their cause by watching a Mission Animal Rescue video all about lions!