The lion is the only truly social cat. It lives in family groups called “prides”, with 3 to 40 members, led by one or more lionesses. It is Africa’s largest meat-eater, weighing up to 250 kg. Its roar can be heard 8 km away and helps it mark its territory and keep the group together. The male’s mane gets darker with age and shows how healthy and important he is. Most of the hunting is done by the females, often at night or at dawn. Since 1960, lion numbers in Africa have fallen by 90%. Only 20,000 to 25,000 wild lions may be left in Africa, and about 890 Asiatic lions in the Gir region of India (2025 census).