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African Lion
Photograph by Chris Johns
An adult male lion rests in the African sun. Only adult males have manes, ruffs of long, thick hair. The bigger the mane, the more impressive a lion looks to other males.
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Asian Lion, Gir Forest
Photograph by Mattias Klum
One of fewer than 300 or so Asian lions left on Earth, this adult male in India's Gir Forest Reserve naps in the shade, away from the afternoon heat.
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African Lioness
Photograph by Chris Johns
Lionesses are in charge of hunting for the pride and work together to bring down fast-running herd animals like wildebeest, zebra, and antelope.
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Asian Lion Cub
Photograph by Mattias Klum
Once widespread across southern Asia and the Middle East, Asian lions are critically endangered. Like African lions, they live in prides, with a male leader, several females, and cubs.
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African Lion Grooming
Photograph by Chris Johns
A male lion keeps his coat in fine shape with frequent grooming. Tawny coloring helps the big cat blend into the African grass.
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African Lioness With Cubs
Photograph by Chris Johns
Lion cubs stay with their mothers for up to three years, after which the female cubs remain with the pride while the males venture off to form their own prides.
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African Lion
Photograph by Chris Johns
Fiercely protective of their prides, or family units, male lions patrol a vast territory normally covering about 100 square miles (260 square kilometers).
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Asian Lion
Photograph by Mattias Klum
The Gir Forest's dry teak woods were once a royal Indian hunting ground. Today they are a reserve where the endangered Asian lions are heavily protected.
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Lion Mother With Cub
Photograph by Chris Johns
A mother nuzzles her cub in the African grass. Cubs join the pride when they can move well enough to keep up—after about three months. At that time, several lionesses bring together their litters, usually born within a few weeks of each other.
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African Lioness in a Tree
Photograph by Chris Johns
A female African lion, rousted from a nap, snarls from a tree near the Zambezi River.
Learn More About Big Cats
Big Cat Features
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Big Cats Initiative
National Geographic is funding a variety of conservation projects across the lions’ range. You can be part of this important work by applying for a grant to help big cats.
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Big Cats Facts
How fast can a cheetah run? Which big cat is the strongest climber? Read all of the big cat facts to find out.
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Big Cats Quiz
How much do you know about big cats? Take the quiz and test your knowledge of endangered cats from around the world.
Animals A-Z
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National Geographic Magazine
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The Beauty of Insect Eggs
Engineered for survival, insect eggs hang on and hatch wherever their parents deposit them.
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Eels Photo Gallery
The freshwater eel is one of the few fishes to spawn in the ocean and spend its adulthood in lakes, rivers, and estuaries.
