All About Lions

Podcast Transcript

Lions are one of the most respected animals in the animal kingdom.

They are called the king of the jungle (even though they don’t really live in jungles), they are used on the crests of royal houses, and the ancients made a lion one of the signs of the zodiac. They have been the subject of fables and some of the world’s most popular movies.

But how did an animal that is today found in Sub-Saharan Africa manage to become a cultural reference for countries in Asia and Europe well before there was any regular contact between the regions?

Learn more about lions, how they behave and their role in human history on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

Lions have had a very long history of being referenced in human culture, but if we are to talk about lions, we should probably start at the very beginning.

While we all know what a lion is if we see one, what exactly is a lion?

Lions are large cats with muscular, deep-chested bodies, rounded heads, and distinctive manes in males. Their coats are typically sandy yellow to reddish-brown, aiding in camouflage.

They are members of the family Felidae and the genus Panthera.

The scientific name of their species is Panthera leo. Leo is the Latin word for lion, and it is a word you are probably familiar with from the zodiac. More on that in a bit.

Male lions weigh 150 to 250 kilograms or 330 to 550 pounds, while females weigh 100 to 185 kilograms or 220 to 410 pounds.

Lions are obligate carnivores, relying exclusively on meat for their nutrition. They primarily hunt medium to large ungulates such as zebras, wildebeests, impalas, and buffalos, though they will also target smaller animals when larger prey is scarce.

Lions employ a cooperative hunting strategy, often stalking and ambushing prey in groups, with lionesses doing most of the hunting. Despite their prowess, lions are opportunistic and will scavenge from other predators, such as hyenas, or eat carrion when fresh kills are unavailable. Their dietary flexibility helps them survive in diverse environments, from savannahs to arid regions.

Lions have unique and intense mating habits characterized by frequent copulation over short periods. When a lioness enters estrus, she signals her readiness by scent marking and engaging in specific behaviors like nuzzling or rolling near a male. Once a male and female pair, they may copulate every 20-30 minutes for several days, with sessions lasting up to 20 seconds. This frequent mating helps ensure successful fertilization since lioness estrus cycles are short, typically lasting only four to seven days.

During the mating period, the male guards the female closely, preventing other males from approaching. Lions exhibit no specific breeding season, so cubs can be born any time of year. After a successful pregnancy, which lasts about 110 days, the lioness gives birth to a litter of one to four cubs. The pride structure allows lionesses to raise their young cooperatively, enhancing cub survival.

Many people claim that male lions are lazy because females do all the hunting. That isn’t quite the case.

Female lions do most of the hunting in a pride primarily due to their role in the social structure and physical adaptations that make them efficient hunters.

While male lions are larger and stronger, their size and distinctive manes make them less stealthy and more easily spotted by prey. In contrast, lionesses are smaller, more agile, and better suited for stalking and chasing prey in the open savannah.

The division of labor in a pride also plays a significant role. Male lions typically focus on protecting the pride’s territory and defending against rival males, ensuring the pride’s safety and maintaining access to resources. By delegating hunting to females, males can concentrate on their territorial and protective duties.

However, when a large kill is made, males often assert dominance at the carcass, feeding first to maintain their strength and position in the pride. This cooperative dynamic allows the pride to function efficiently, balancing hunting, protection, and reproduction.

The evolutionary history of lions spans millions of years. The Felidae family, to which Lions belong, evolved approximately 25 million years ago during the Oligocene (all-a-go-seen) epoch.

The Felidae family originated from small, carnivorous mammals known as miacids, which lived 50 to 60 million years ago. These early carnivores eventually gave rise to more cat-like creatures, such as Proailurus, considered one of the first true cats, and Pseudaelurus, a genus that later diversified into both modern cats and the now-extinct saber-toothed cats.

The genus Panthera, which includes lions, emerged around 10 to 12 million years ago. Fossil and genetic evidence suggest that Panthera originated in Asia and later diversified into species such as tigers, leopards, and lions. The lion lineage likely appeared around two million years ago in Africa.

Fossils from this period, attributed to early forms of lions such as Panthera leo fossilis, indicate that lions were among the dominant predators of their time. From their African origins, lions spread to Eurasia and eventually to the Americas during the Pleistocene epoch, when a land bridge connected the continents.

Throughout the Pleistocene, lions diversified into several distinct forms adapted to different environments. The cave lion, which lived in Europe and Asia, and the American lion, one of the largest cats ever to exist, show the diversity of the genus.

These ancient lions were significantly larger than modern lions and roamed vast territories, thriving in a variety of climates. However, many of these subspecies, including cave lions and American lions, went extinct around 10,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of climate change and human activities.

This diversity of lions is probably the most interesting thing about lions and is something most people don’t realize.

Today, lions are mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa, with a small number of Asiatic lions found in western India.

However, this was not always the case. There used to be lions in Europe and the Middle East, and historically speaking, this wasn’t that long ago.

Cave paintings from 30,000 years ago in Europe, such as those in Chauvet Cave in France, depict lions, showing how far back human fear and respect for lions go.

As late as 2000 years ago, lions could be found throughout North Africa, around the perimeter of the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, most of India, the Caucuses, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt.

Many of these places still had lions as late as the 18th and 19th centuries.

This wide distribution of lions in antiquity is the reason why lions fare so prominently in legends, myth, and symbolism.

Lions have held a significant place in mythology and symbolism throughout the ancient world, embodying power, courage, protection, and majesty. Their imposing presence and role as apex predators inspired reverence and fear, making them potent symbols in the cultural and spiritual narratives of various civilizations.

In Ancient Mesopotamia, lions were associated with kingship and divine authority. They often appeared in art and literature as protectors and symbols of strength. For instance, the lion was a recurring motif in depictions of kings, such as the famous Ishtar Gate of Babylon, which featured lion reliefs representing the goddess Ishtar’s power.

The Babylonians are also believed to have developed the signs of the zodiac and the inclusion of Leo.

In Ancient Egypt, lions were seen as protectors and were linked to deities such as Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess of war and healing. Lions symbolized the ferocity needed to guard sacred spaces and maintain order. The Great Sphinx of Giza, with its lion’s body, represented both guardianship and the integration of human intelligence with animal strength.

In Greek mythology, the lion was an emblem of heroism and challenge. The Nemean lion, a monstrous beast with impenetrable skin, was famously defeated by Hercules in the first of his twelve labors. This myth cemented the lion as a symbol of insurmountable obstacles and ultimate triumph.

In Ancient India, lions symbolized protection and royalty. The lion is prominently associated with the goddess Durga, who sometimes rides a lion as a demonstration of her dominance over evil forces. Lions also appear in Buddhist symbolism, where they represent the Buddha’s teachings as a “lion’s roar” that resonates with clarity and power.

In Persia, lions were often depicted in hunting scenes alongside kings, emphasizing the monarch’s dominance over both nature and his enemies. The lion was also a symbol of cosmic order and power, appearing frequently in Persian art and architecture.

In Rome, of course, lions were often used in gladiatorial games and public spectacles, where they fought against gladiators, other animals, or criminals.

Lions for these spectacles were sourced from across the empire, primarily from North Africa and parts of the Middle East, regions abundant with wild lion populations at the time. Capturing and transporting these majestic animals required significant resources, but it was something that the Romans could afford.

So, what happened to all the non-African lions?

Lions began to disappear from Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East due to a combination of habitat loss, human hunting, and competition with humans for resources. These declines occurred over centuries, influenced by growing human populations, agricultural expansion, and urban development.

In Europe, lions likely became extinct around 10,000 years ago during the late Pleistocene, as climatic change from the end of the ice age and increasing human activity reduced their suitable habitats. The cave lion, a subspecies native to Europe and parts of Asia, was among the lion sub specie that disappeared during this period.

In North Africa and the Middle East, lions persisted longer but faced similar pressures. In North Africa, the Barbary lion (Panthera leo leo), which roamed the Atlas Mountains, was driven to extinction in the wild by the mid-20th century due to overhunting and habitat destruction. These lions were hunted for sport during Roman times and later during European colonial expansion. In the Middle East, Asiatic lions were once widespread but were gradually eradicated due to deforestation, desertification, and hunting. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they had disappeared from most of their range, surviving only in the Gir Forest of India.

Today, the global lion population is in decline, and the species is classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Current estimates suggest approximately 20,000 to 25,000 lions remain in the wild, though accurate numbers are challenging to determine due to their vast and fragmented ranges. Lions now inhabit only about 8% of their historic range, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, with a small, isolated population in the previously mentioned Gir Forest of India.

African lions are the most numerous, but their populations are decreasing due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. They face significant threats from expanding human settlements, agricultural development, and retaliatory killings by livestock owners.

Asiatic lions are critically endangered, with fewer than 700 individuals in the Gir Forest and surrounding areas of the state of Gujarat, India. Although their population has shown signs of recovery due to conservation efforts, their limited range and genetic bottleneck pose ongoing risks.

Despite their dwindling numbers, lions have remained one of the most iconic of the charismatic megafauna on Earth. Whether it is the MGM Lion, the Cowardly Lion, the Lion King, or the English national football team, lions are still an important part of culture around the world.

In Africa, home to most of the world’s lions, they still have an outsized role. The Maasai, Zulu, and Ashanti people, just to name a few, use the symbol of a lion to represent leadership and authority.

One reason to be optimistic about the future of the world’s lion population is that they can adapt.

In Namibia’s Skeleton Coast region, a remarkable adaptation has been observed among a unique population of lions where they have learned to hunt seals. This unusual behavior stems from the harsh desert environment, where traditional prey like antelope is scarce. These lions venture to the coastal areas, exploiting the abundant Cape fur seal colonies as a food source.

There has been talk about bringing lions back to the Middle East and North Africa, but it is unlikely to happen, considering how dangerous they can be in populated environments.

Even if conservation efforts are successful, there is one place you will probably never see a lion……the Super Bowl.