Where Do Lions Live?

Did you know lions are the only known cat species to roar together? In their "prides," or groups, lions will roar to mark their territory, according to the World Wildlife Fund. 

These big cats are social within their prides and will hunt prey and raise cubs together, according to National Geographic Kids. 

Lions live in a wide range of habitats, but where exactly are these lands? Here is what you need to know about where lions live, how long they live, plus other facts about this big cat.

First, Lions are at the top of the food chain, with no natural predators. They are often depicted in stories and films as majestic and strong.

Lions can be found in both Africa and Asia. In Asia, they are limited to the Gir Forest and National Park, whereas in Africa, they are found in scattered populations across the sub-Sahara region as well as east, west, and southern Africa. Three of the five largest remaining African populations are found in Tanzania. 

Besides, lions can also adapt to a broad range of habitats. Although we might imagine them as being predominantly savannah animals, they also thrive in grasslands, dense bush, and woodlands. They have even adapted to the arid conditions of the Kalahari Desert and the swampy marshlands of the Okavango delta.  

Lions thrive in open grasslands, with widely spaced and scattered trees. Imagine a kind of open area, dominantly yellow-brown in background where they can easily camouflage. This kind of habitat also is home to their prey species like buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, deer of various kinds in Africa and wild boars, sambar deer and other kinds of deer in Asia. Lions also hunt all other kind of small mammals, almost always herbivores.

The lions numbers have declined dramatically in recent years although lions are large, powerful cats, and they used to roam north African grasslands, Eastern Europe, and the western, central and southern parts of Asia till various periods throughout history, as late as the end of the 19th century. However, African lion numbers have plummeted by over 40% in the last three generations, largely as a result of habitat loss and conflicts with humans. Lion populations across Africa are in decline and they have disappeared from much of their historical range in the last two decades, including 12 sub-Saharan countries altogether. 

If you are in love with lions, you can contribute to the help for the preservation by wearing the lion t-shirt or the lion hoodie to keep you warm during the winter.