Asiatic Lions
Asiatic Lions: How The Mighty Have Fallen, Risen, And Conquered
Asiatic Lions are one of 9 subspecies of lions in the world, whose numbers had been reduced to an alarming 78 wild specimens. Though Asiatic Lions have been a notorious pest for centuries, using the domestic herds of the native peoples for easy pickings, it has finally been made clear that the survival of these majestic animals is necessary for the proper ecological balance of their native regions. The last remaining wild stronghold for the Asiatic Lion is in the Gir Forest of India.
Though this wild environment is maintained within a private sanctuary, the lions are left to their natural prides and hunting strategies, and are not interfered with by humans. Tours are available of the sanctuary, where visitors can take part in observing Asiatic Lions from a safe and respectable distance. There are nearly as many Asiatic Lions in captivity as there are in the wild, due to the vast and aggressive movement to save the species from extinction.
The lion can spend upwards of 23 hours per day lounging about, sleeping, napping, grooming, and snoozing. The life of these social felines is captivating and often comical, but at times may seem harsh and, well, animalistic. The pride is constantly vulnerable to change, as birth, death, territorial squabbles, and nutritional deprivation are always at hand and need to be dealt with immediately.
The Asiatic Lion’s pride contains as many as thirty lions, the majority of which are related in some way. There is always a dominant, unrelated male lion whose duties include standing at stud to his many wives, guarding the pride at all times, and babysitting the cubs while their mothers are on the hunt. The dominant male will rarely challenge the subordinate males in the pride as long as these youngsters, most likely his sons or grandsons, never challenge his authority. It is also the dominant male’s job to ensure that all of the cubs have plenty to eat.
While studying the hunting behaviors of these amazing cats in the wild, experts were astounded to find that the lionesses were able to switch both strategies and placements depending upon what they were hunting. For instance, they found that if the group were hunting something small but fast, there was a different front lioness and closing strategy than when they hunted a larger, more sluggish animal. Using the teams various strengths and talents in order to heighten their chances at success, the Asiatic Lion has proven both an avid and strategic hunting machine. As their numbers continue to increase, experts are seeking new, private sanctuary lands for these wonderful cats.