They will then mature and seek out their own prides, usually by challenging an older male for his females. Young males are usually chased off by about age 4.Lions, like most cats are considered nocturnal.Most hunting takes place during this active time. It is not unusual for lions to sleep up to 21 hours in a day, becoming active generally at night or at dusk.Lions tend to gorge on a meal and then slip off to rest for prolonged periods while digesting.In some groups, the animal that makes the kill is allowed to eat first, in others males eat first, while others share among the pride without any real problems. Various feeding habits have been observed in different prides.Females usually do most of the hunting, while males are mainly concerned with the protection of the members within the pride. They may hunt singly, in pairs or as a group.Lions live in a family or social group known as a pride.(The zoo monitors all animals for excessive weight problems and adjusts diets as needed.) Captive animals do not expel as much energy hunting so they do not require as much as their wild relatives, otherwise, they will gain too much weight. When a kill is made, the animals will gorge themselves to make up for lost efforts. It is not usually on a daily basis that they acquire food since only about 20 – 30 % of their hunts are successful. In the wild, males need on average about 15 lbs of meat per day, while females need about 11 pounds. Wild: Large to medium-sized animals, such as giraffe, water buffalo, zebra, wildebeest (or gnu), wild hogs, and antelope. Cubs are following mother on hunts and other activities at about 3 months.Cubs are generally about 5 pounds at birth, eyes open at about 3 weeks of age.Females reach sexual maturity around age 3.Weight: Males: 330 – 550 pounds/ Females: 260 – 400 pounds Generally prefer grassy plains, savannas and semi-deserts. Several northern subspecies are now extinct. Largest surviving concentrations in southeastern Africa.
Once ranging throughout Africa, they are now found mainly in sub-Saharan regions.
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