Meerkat
Scientific namePanthera leo
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable
The African Lion is Africa’s top carnivore and apex predator.
Sydney
Visitor Tips Dubbo
Visitor tips for Sydney
You can see Lions in African Savannah.
2pm
Good times to visit
10am
Keeper talk
Fast facts about African Lions
We bet you didn't know these facts about these boisterous big cats!
Scroll across and tap the icon to reveal lion facts.
Sandpaper tongue
Lions have rough, spiney tongues! This helps them strip meat off bones when they feed.
Sisters stick together
All females in a pride are related, because lionesses stay in the same pride their whole life.
That’s one loud lion!
A Lions roar can be heard from up to 8km away!
Born blind
Lion cubs are born blind. Their eyes gradually open in the first 2 weeks of life.
Lion pride
A group of Lions is called a ‘pride’.
Padded paws
Lions have soft, padded paws to help them stalk silently when they hunt.
Males have manes
Male Lions have a mane, and female Lions, Lionesses, do not.
Night vision
Lions have incredible night vision, to help them hunt at night.
Did you know...
25 yrs
Lions can live to 20 – 25 years in a zoo environment
Where they live
Broad habitat tolerance - open woodlands and thick bush, scrub and grasslands, with some cover for hunting and denning
260kg
Male Lions can weigh from 150-260kg and females can weigh from 120-180 kg
What they eat
Buffalo, zebra, antelope and wildebeest
1.5m
Lions can grow from 1 – 1.5m tall (males are almost 50% larger than females)
Where they're found
in sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe)
4
Lions will birth 1-4 cubs in a litter, although there has been instances of 5!
Before they're born
A Lion’s gestation period is usually 110 days, or 3-4 months
25 yrs
Lions can live to 20 – 25 years in a zoo environment
Where they live
Broad habitat tolerance - open woodlands and thick bush, scrub and grasslands, with some cover for hunting and denning
260kg
Male Lions can weigh from 150-260kg and females can weigh from 120-180 kg
What they eat
Buffalo, zebra, antelope and wildebeest
1.5m
Lions can grow from 1 – 1.5m tall (males are almost 50% larger than females)
Where they're found
in sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe)
4
Lions will birth 1-4 cubs in a litter, although there has been instances of 5!
Before they're born
A Lion’s gestation period is usually 110 days, or 3-4 months
WATCH: Dubbo's cutest new lion residents
African Lion deep dive
Discover more about what makes these carnivores so cool.
Species management programs
Taronga contributes to an Australasian Species Management Program and/or international breeding program for this species. This helps maintain healthy and resilient zoo-based animal populations by preserving genetic diversity, supporting animal husbandry knowledge, and ensuring exceptional animal welfare, safeguarding the species for the future.
Buy beads, save wildlife
You can help African animals by purchasing beads! But how can beads help animals like giraffe and lions? Find out with Beads for Wildlife.
More to explore
African Lion: Fact Files
Discover educational resources from Kindergarten to year 6!
