African Lions
Meet our lion siblings!
Malkia was born on September 21, 2007, and joined the Lake Superior Zoo family when she and her siblings, Leo & Lily, were just cubs. Leo and Lily passed in 2022 of age related conditions.
Where do they live? Eastern & Southern Africa, excluding the Congo Rainforest
What’s it like where they live? Lions prefer rich grasslands and avoid dense forests where their prey is scarce. They can live in forested, shrubby, mountainous, and semi-desert habitats.
What do they eat? Lions are carnivores and a typical diet will include zebra, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, gazelles, and impala. Lions are opportunistic and will readily scavenge the kills of other animals.
How long do they live? Lions typically live for 15-25 years.
Conservation: African lions are listed as vulnerable due to poaching, habitat loss, and carcass poisoning.
Interesting Facts:
- Lions are more social than other cat species. They live in groups called prides that are made up of 3-30 individuals.
- Females, or lionesses, are the main hunters of the group.
- Lions can sleep and rest up to 21 hours a day. Talk about a cat nap!
- A lion’s roar can be heard from nearly 5 miles away.