Lion

Description:

This series shows both a male and female Lion. Lions are the second largest cat after the Tiger. The male has a huge mane where the female only has short hair. This male (named Izu) was particularly active this day! He's reported to be 450 pounds.

Habitat:

San Diego Zoo Safari Park. "They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest." - Wikipedia

Notes:

"Lions live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. Traditionally, twelve recent subspecies of lion were recognized, distinguished by mane appearance, size, and distribution. Because these characteristics are very insignificant and show a high individual variability, most of these forms were probably not true subspecies, especially as they were often based upon zoo material of unknown origin that may have had "striking, but abnormal" morphological characteristics. Today only eight subspecies are usually accepted, although one of these, the Cape lion, formerly described as Panthera leo melanochaita, probably is invalid" - Wikipedia