Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 136, April 2016, pp. 1-35. | Page 4

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The bonding among a family of lions is extremely strong with aunts and sisters
helping in the bringing up of all young. Females stay with the pride all through
life, whereas the males tend to set out on their own around the age of three. They
mostly lead solitary lives then onwards but have been known to also roam
territories in pairs and trios. These bachelors are known to be the main threats to
the dominant males leading their prides. They are also known to kill cubs to try
and get the females into estrus once again. These bachelors are mostly brothers
that left a pride together, but individual bachelors have been known to team up
with other individuals (Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006).
Lions, unlike the tiger, hunt in groups. They collectively stalk their prey and
have been commonly seen applying strategies that would do any army
commander proud. Very often some of the females pinpoint a particular
individual prey and chase it in the direction of other lionesses waiting in
ambush. The prey is mostly killed by a quick, powerful bite to the spine or with
the help of a classic choke grip, with the strong jaws of the lion cutting off air
supply to the lungs (Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006).
Although history shows the coexistence of lions and tigers, there is no prevalent
example of this anywhere in the world at present. Lions do coexist even in the
current era with leopards and cheetahs. However, they are extremely territorial
and attempt to kill these leopards and cheetahs whenever their paths happen to
cross. If the attempt at relocating lions to other parts of India is finally
undertaken, it will also answer the question of whether it is possible for two such
ferociously territorial and powerful large cats to inhabit the same jungle.
Unlike the tiger, which prefers dense forests with adequate cover, the lion
inhabits the scrub-type deciduous forests. Asiatic lions seldom come into contact
with Indian tigers, which don‟t live in the Gir region as this forest is hotter and
more arid than the habitat preferred by the tiger (Khalaf-von Jaffa, 2006).
The Asiatic Lion has been declared the most endangered large cat species in the
world. Their numbers ranging between 250 – 350, all concentrated in the same
area, they are under the constant threat of being wiped out by some deadly
epidemic. It is hoped by all conservationists that the governing authorities settle
their differences of opinion on the best possible plan and take some action before
it's too late to save one of the most magnificent beasts to roam the planet (Khalafvon Jaffa, 2006).

Fact Sheet:
Weight: Male 150-250 Kg; Female 120-180 Kg.
Length (head and body): Male 170-250 cm; Female 140-175 cm.
Length (tail): 70-105 cm.
Shoulder height: Male 100-123 cm; Female 80-107 cm.
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 136 – April 2016