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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Typically a mature male stands 4 feet at the shoulder and is 8 .5 feet long, plus tail. He'll average 450 pounds. Females are considerable smaller, weighing less than 300 pounds. Adult lions usually have a plain unspotted coat, light brown to dark ochre in color. Cubs are marked with spots which sometimes persist on the legs and belly until they are fully grown. Male lions have a brown mane, which tends to grow darker and fuller as the animal ages. The tail has a black tuft at the end. "White" lions occasionally occur in the Transvaal region of southern Africa, but these are not true albinos.
Thousands of years ago, lions were common throughout southern Europe, southern Asia, eastern and central India and over the whole of the African continent. Today, with the exception of some 300 highly protected animals in the Gir National Park of India, the only naturally-occuring lions are found in Africa. (But even in Africa lions have been wiped out in the north; the last Numidian male was shot as a trophy in the 1930s.) Lions do not live in heavy forests and jungles and they do not inhabit desert areas due to a scarcity of game.
Lions feed on a variety of large and medium-size prey. They prefer wildebeast (or gnu) to all others when the annual migration brings the vast herds through the pride's range. Otherwise they eat buffalo, zebra, antelope, giraffe, and warthogs. They also steal kills and carrion from other predators.
Lions are the only cats that live in large family groups. Each pride differs in size and formation, but a typical pride consists of two males and seven females and a variable number of cubs. Females are usually sisters and/or cousins that have grown up together. When the pride hunts as a group they employ an ambush that forces large prey into the waiting paws of the males. Females have the speed but lack the body weight to knock down large "family size" prey such as the wildebeast. Despite their tremendous power and adaptive efficiency, lions are more likely to fail than succeed in their attempts to kill.
Subadult males are driven out at 2-1/2 to 3 years of age and may go in a group with other males. Females mature in about two years, males a few years later. All big cats are induced ovulators, i.e. release of the ovum is brought about by the act of mating. The period of gestation for the lioness is between 105 and 118 days and usually three or four cubs will be born. Only one in five will survive the first year. When game is scarce the dominance hierarchy based on size and age quickly becomes apparent. The youngest die first.
Life span in the wild is 15-18 years, in captivity 25-30 years. Source: http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azlion.html
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ISO 200, early morning. |
stevkds, Argus, dew77, Alex99, ferranjlloret has marked this note useful
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Hi Aivar.
Valuable shot. Original nature. Picture is good arrected. Good combination of frame and object. Good work. Very well done. tfs. Stev
- Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2711 W: 139 N: 7830]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(24389) - [2007-01-28 11:15]
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Hello Aivar,
Nice change from zoo shots: seeing a male lion in its natural habitat.
You have captured him sharply and with a good contrast to the dry vegetation.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan
Hi Aivar,
Surprisingly long body...
Must have been a close encounter...
Nice content.
TFS
Annick
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- dew77
(13069)
- [2007-01-28 14:22]
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Hello Aivar,
Excellent capture.POV,lighting,details,pose of lion and composition are wonderful.
TFS...:-)
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- delic
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(936) - [2007-01-28 17:19]
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Hello Aivar,
You have captured those powerful looks very well. The lion is well-framed in good light. Well done.
Hakan
Hello Aivar,
excllent colors bg POV DOF perfec details very crisp nicly composed and capture photo excllent workk
TFS Kyle
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- Alex99
(15295)
- [2007-01-29 10:26]
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Hi Aivar.
You are really brave photo hunter. Be careful : ))
Amazing eye contact, POV and composition. You have reflected the nature of this majestic animal perfectly. Proud pose, grand glance. Colours are natural as the whole scene. I also like the exposure and DOF. Last one is selected precisely. TFS and best regards.
Alexei.
Hi Aviar,
A very good, natural and wild photo. The lion has soldier face.
Salutacions
Ferran
Hello Aivar,
Interesting to see this beast sneaking around in the dry grass!
He looks like interested, maybe he can see food...
Well composed, good focus and details!
Greetings,
Pablo -
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- SkyF
(8113)
- [2007-04-12 17:25]
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Hello Aivar,
who is watching who ;-). Great shot, I really like the POV with the lion slightly hidden by the gras. Very nice colors.
Sky
Beautiful photo, love how the hes hidden in the grasses....nice natural colors. TFS
Donna:o)
Thanks for your comments on my photo " The Sea Is Angry Still (32) " :o)
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(1705)![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 1395 W: 0 N: 720]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(5492)