Kenya Hosts 2,000 African Lions
Kenya’s African lion population numbers about 2,000. African lions are some of the most cherished Kenya animals and are much sought after by tourists to the country.
A lion’s coat is typically fawn while the body measures anything from 4.5 to 6.5 feet in length. Male lions are easily identifiable because of the shock of hair round the head that is commonly known as the mane.
Female lions weigh between 120 to 190 kilograms. Male lions are usually larger and their weight typically surpasses 250 kilograms.
Lions belong to the Big Cat family that in Kenya also comprises leopards and cheetahs. Generally, a family of lions (referred to as a pride) has 2-3 males but 12 or more lionesses. The dominant male becomes the leader of the pride but is finally replaced by a younger, stronger and more virile male. Besides reproduction, the primary role of the male lions is to guard their territory and protect the pride.
Given that lions are carnivores, their diet consists completely of meat. Lionesses do the majority of the hunting. All the female lions in a pride hunt jointly, preying on animals as varied as antelopes, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes and the elephant young. But African lions aren’t really fast sprinters and they tire pretty fast. Hence they work in cooperation to besiege and quickly seize an unfortunate prey. They often concentrate on and separate pretty young or old as well as fragile individuals from a herd.
Like humans, African lions keep very close family connections. Finally however, teen males abandon their original prides and along with their peers, constitute new ones.
A lion’s life span ranges from 10 to 15 years. Nonetheless male lions mostly have a shorter life span due to countless turf wars with other male lions. This is because of the fact that lions are incredibly territorial and will generally fight to the death while trying to deter trespassers.
Lions generally dwell in savanna grasslands. They spend almost all of their time lying and resting and can remain virtually motionless for up to 20 hours a day.
Collectively, African lions are one of the important tourist attractions in Kenya. Your best chance for seeing them is the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, which is undoubtedly the most valued of the more than 4 dozen Kenya wildlife parks.
Imani Kimatt lives and works in Kenya. She loves writing about a range of Kenya animals and offers advice on the best Kenya national parks to experience the country’s fascinating wildlife.