Lions are big cats primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa. They inhabit various ecosystems, including savannahs, grasslands, open woodlands, and scrublands. In addition to African lions, there is also a small, isolated population of Asiatic lions inhabiting India’s Gir National Park.

Adult males typically weigh 120 to 190 kilograms (260 to 420 pounds) and stand about 1.2 to 1.4 meters (4 to 4.5 feet) tall at the shoulder, while adult females are slightly smaller. Lions have a tawny-colored coat with a tufted tail, and males often have manes of varying coloration, from blonde to dark brown or black. Female lions, called lionesses, lack manes.

These big cats are carnivorous predators and primarily prey on smaller mammals, including zebras, wildebeests, and buffalo. They are opportunistic hunters, so they will also eat smaller prey like impalas and warthogs or scavenge meat from the carcasses of dead animals.

Lions are skilled hunters who work in coordinated groups—called prides—to surround and ambush their prey. The lionesses do most of the hunting, relying on stealth and speed to approach their target before launching a coordinated attack. Males sometimes join in for the hunt but are usually more involved in defending their territory and pride.

As highly social animals, lions live in prides composed of related females, their cubs, and a coalition of males. Female lions give birth to a litter of cubs after a gestation period of about four months. Typically, a lioness gives birth to two to six cubs per litter in a sheltered den. These cubs are then raised collectively within the pride, with several lionesses often nursing and caring for them.

Lions play a crucial role in their ecosystems, and their presence has several important ecological and environmental benefits. Firstly, they help control the populations of herbivorous animals, like zebras and wildebeests, preventing overgrazing and ecosystem degradation. By controlling herbivore populations, lions also indirectly influence vegetation patterns and the overall health of their ecosystems. This, in turn, impacts other species, such as birds and small mammals, that depend on diverse habitats for survival.

Healthy and balanced ecosystems, maintained by lions and other top predators, also play a role in sequestering carbon and mitigating climate change by preserving vegetation and the carbon it contains.