Panthera leo (Lion)

The lion (Panthera leo) is Africa's largest felid and the only truly social cat, living in family groups called prides across savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands. Cubs are born with spotted coats that fade as they mature, and remain dependent on their mothers for hunting instruction and protection for two to three years. The acacia-commiphora bushlands of southern Kenya's Masai Mara ecosystem provide crucial habitat for lions and their prey, supporting one of Africa's most intact carnivore communities. Lions range across sub-Saharan Africa, with a small relict population in India's Gir Forest.