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FAQ
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Distribution: Sub-Saharan Africa and western India Size: Up to 225kg Interesting facts:
Sightings: Lions are very strange wild cats: they are actually fairly easy to see in the areas where they still exist. Even when you don't see them, they leave their mark on proceedings. My first "encounter" with a wild lion was in Zimbabwe in 1995, when the Victoria Falls park was temporarily closed as a lion had apparently vaulted the fencing and needed to be shepherded back outside. Perhaps the biggest challenge with lions is striking the right balance between observation and interference. More than any other animal, they attract safari vehicles which flout regulations and surround their targets in a convey. Seeing lions on their own terms is much more rewarding. The massive male lion who walked calmly past the lodge window in Taita Hills, the prides whose roaring broke the nights in the Serengeti, and two young males in Tarangire who were climbing trees like leopards all left an indelible impression on me. Things to Look For: Lions are in serious trouble outside of protected areas and most visitors will only encounter them on safaris in national parks or reserves, where a skilled local guide is likely to be compulsory. In open country, several vultures circling over a particular location may indicate a predator kill, and the cats may well be nearby. They difficult (though not impossible) to mistake for anything else. To date I've found this species in:
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Order: Carnivora, Family: Felidae