Of all the cats, the Lion is the only one with pronounced sexual dimorphism, where the male starts developing a mane by 2 yrs old and is really in its fullest and the animal in its prime between 5-6 years of age.
Typically males may hold territory of between 20-400 square kms. Within which may be several prides of females. In the Maasai Mara, females do most of the hunting, helped by males in taking down large animals. They here favour wildebeest and zebra, but outside of the annual ‘migration’, they have often been seen taking other prey even buffalo and warthogs. Because of their high metabolism they sleep about 20 hours a day, and kills are often made at night. The females estrus cycle lasts about 4 days, copulations average 20 seconds and only 1 in 5 cycles ever produces upto on average 3 cubs (after 3 and a half month gestation). Male cubs are ousted from the pride between 2-3 and a half years old whereas female cubs may stay indefinitely. The cubs are weaned between 7-8 months old and up until this age are allo-suckled by any lioness.
The Marsh Pride near Musiara swamp and the Ridge pride near Rhino ridge are large prides that are fairly easy to find, use to cars and regularly filmed by the BBC Big Cat Diary.
Longevity of about 14-20 years.
