The lions have been looked upon with respect by humans. They have been hunted down but still remain in some parts of the world. They are endangered specie on the wildlife list.

Mountain lions have several names such as Cougars and panthers. They are abundant in North America and are the biggest cat that dwells there.

These had reached extinction but are not back and have been sighted in the Easter parts of United States.

Several factors are responsible for the decline in number of lions including the rapid urbanization and excessive hunting before laws for their protection were passed.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:

Adult male is 2.4 m in length weighing up to 72 kilograms and the adult female weighs up to 48kg. An adult can weigh up to 200 pounds. Cubs have a typical appearance with spots and a ringed long tail. They can be mistaken for bob cats but the differentiating feature is the tail. Lion tracks made by cougars do not show claw imprints they have for toes each on the front and hind foot. The tracks can be 4 inches long.

HABITAT:

These animals prefer living aloe and avoid humans at all costs. They are carnivores and can feed on meat from many sources be it birds, foxes, mice, deer or porcupine they can travel up to 25 miles at night for a hunt.

A single adult male requires up to 175 square miles of area as his home and they prefer dwelling in wild areas. Consumption of one deer every fortnight is normal by a single adult. They cover the remains of their prey and hunt for more. Animal remains signify that the lion is still around.

REPRODUCTION :

The prime breeding season starts late winter to early summers. The cubs are looked after for 2 years by the mother, and during that time they stay with their mother.

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