Asiatic Lion
The Asiatic lion is one of the five major Big Cats found in India, the others being the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Indian Leopard, the Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopard.
The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) also
known as the Indian lion, Persian lion and Eurasian lion The
only place in the wild where Asiatic Lions are found is in the Gir Forest of
Gujrat, India. In 2010, the Gujarat government reported that 411 Asiatic lions
were sighted in the Gir forest, a rise of 52 over the last census of 2005.
The Asiatic lion is one of the five major Big Cats found in India, the others being the Royal Bengal Tiger, the Indian Leopard, the Snow Leopard and Clouded Leopard.
Survival of the Asian lion is endangered. The Asian lion
once occurred in southeast Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and India. By
1884, it survived only in an area of about 3 000 square kilometers (1,140 mi.2)
in northern India's Gir Forest, under the private protection of the ruler of
the small state. Official protection by the Imperial government was given in
1900, but with increasing human population, overgrazing, and destruction of
forest cover, suitable habitat has been reduced to about 1 300 km2
(494 mi.2).
Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than their African
relatives. (The Asian and African lions are subspecies of Panthera leo). An
average adult male weighs about 175 kg (385 lb.) and adult females about 115 kg
(253 lb.)
The pride size of the Asian lion also tends to be smaller.
This may be accounted for by the fact that male Asiatic lions do not tend to be
part of a pride. In general the prey size is smaller in India so the males do
not need to be part of a group effort in order to catch their food.
