An endangered animal - the Lion

Photograph by Chris Johns

 Lions have been celebrated throughout history for their courage and strength. Lions are the second largest living cats after the tiger. Lions can grow up to 2m and can weigh up to 191kg. Lions are the only cats which live in a group which are called prides. Male lions boast manes which are long hair around their head. Male lions protect their prides. Female lions are the pride’s primary hunter. They often work together to prey because many of the animals are faster than lions.

Lions once roamed most of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe. Today they are found only in parts of
sub-Saharan Africa, except for one very small population of Asian lions that survives in India's Gir Forest.

                                                                                                                                   

 Lions are strong animals but why are they endangered? There are two reasons. Firstly humans kill them. There are different purposes to kill them for example protecting livestock, for flesh and skin and for having fun hunting. Secondly the lion’s habitats are getting destroyed by humans for wood, fuel and land.

I think we need to know more about the endangered animals and always think about them before we do something.

 Toshiya (Source: National Geographic)