ASIATIC LION [Panthera Leo Persica]: The Indian lion is a shaggier creature than the better-known African lion.  The coat is denser and the elbow and tail tufts longer.  A character which is invariably present in the Indian lion is a distinct belly fold that is not so prominent in it African counterpart.  The Asiatic lion has figured in history, distributed as it was within historic times from Greece in the northwest to Bihar in the east.  Sadly, today it is only confined to the GIR Forests. 

BEHAVIOUR: 

1. HABITAT:  Lions prefer scrub forests.  They show remarkable tolerance to heat although they like to rest in shady areas when the temperatures soar.  They are communal hunters and hence require visibility and lack of obstructions for successfully stalking a prey.
2. HABIT:  A lion’s whiskers and the associated facial sports are unique for each individual.  The habits of the Indian lion do not the differ much from those of the American Lion.  By day, they rest under the shade of trees and at dusk go in quest for food.  Their roars are heard throughout the night, more noticeably at dusk and again just before daybreak.  In the GIR forest, they prey mainly on game and cattle.  At dusk the cattle.  At dusk, the cattle killers make straight for the nearest village to wait for cattle coming home, or it takes its victims when they are driven out to pasture before dawn.
3. LOCOMOTION:  Like all other cats, lions walk on their toes.  This type of walking is termed is ‘digitigrades location.’  This not only helps them in being silent when stalking their prey but also provides them with greater speed and agility in running and leaping on their prey.
4. FOOD:  In the GIR forest the lions mainly hunt for chital, samba, and other wild animals.  Livestock also forms a major part of their diet.  Man-eating has not been reported in Indian Lions although African lions were once notorious for their manhunts.

FAMILY:

1. COURTSHIP: adult male lions have to constantly defend their harem against other males.  Territorial fights can range from minor scuffle to a seasons combat.  The winner then gets to take over the pride.
2. PARENTAL CARE:  Baby lions are helpless.  The mother mainly takes them care of cubs, although sometimes the father might contribute in defending there from other predators.  The cubs communicate with hungry, but also when cold.  However, they wail the loudest when left alone.  Much of the skills gained in hunting are by following the example of their parents.
3. OFFSPRING: The period of gestation is about 115 days.  Young are produced between January-February.  They at intervals of at least 18 months to 2 years.  Ordinarily the litter size range from 2 to 5.  The father stays with the family and helps to defend the young and later to get food for them.
4. BREEDING:  A pride of lions usually comprises of an adult male and several females.  Sub-adult mails if related may be tolerated as well.  An adult lions has to constantly defend his territory and harem if he wants to reign supreme in the pride.  They do not seem to have a fixed breeding season although majority of them mate during October-November.  The female is said to have her first letter when she is about 2-3 years old.  Mating is painful and is of a long duration.  This is necessary to induce ovulation in the female.

FACTS:

1. ANCESTRY: Like the tiger and the leopard, lions to originally came from the North Fossil remains discovered in England, France, Germany show that in pre-historic times.  Lions ranged over the whole of Central Europe. M the fact that lions cubs have supported coats when born also suggests their descent from a spotted ancestor.
2. NUMBERS:  At the end of the 19^th century, poaching and uncontrolled shooting had brought the lions to the verge of extinction and it was believed that not more than 20 existed.  The princely state of Junagarh Gujarat than placed a strict ban on shooting, which was enforced rigidly.  The protection measures were wonderfully successful and the number of lion increased to a remarkable extent.  A census held in 1936 gave a count of 287 animals.  Census in subsequent years indicates that the GIR holds a population of not less than 275 lions.  The protection received by the lions has been continued even more rigorously since India became Independent.  
3. PREDATORS:  The lions do not come into conflict with any other carnivores simply because of their sheer size.  As to their own cousins such as the tiger and the leopard they avoid each and prey preferences of a large cat eating another is purely accidental.  Lions cubs are valuable to hyenas, wild dogs and jackal but that too happens in very rare cases.  Hunting too is almost negligible in case of lions and the only threat they face today is habitat destruction and the subsequent loss of prey base.