Smile of The Day: Lion on the savanna at Animal Kingdom
Catching a glimpse of the lions on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride at the Animal Kingdom in Disney World can be hit or miss. Lions spend a lot of time, well, “lion around” (you saw that one coming didn’t you.) Many times as the trucks pass by you can usually catch a glimpse of the male or female lion under a tree or in shade. There are times, you do get lucky and can catch them walking around, usually in the early morning before it gets hot.
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| © Steven Liebman |
Genus and Species: Panthera leo
Where to find at Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safaris in the East Savanna section.
Where they live: Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia.
Height and weight: Males way between 350 and 400 pounds and are about 9 feet in length and 3 feet in height. Females weigh between 250 and 300 pounds , are 8 feet in length and about 30 inches in height.
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| © Steven Liebman |
Life span: 12 to 14 years in the wild
What they eat: They are meat eaters, in the wild its usually wildebeest, impalas, buffalo, warthogs and zebras.
The hunter: It is the lioness is the hunter while the male lion usually stays at home and watches the cubs.
Where the lion name comes from: The word come from the Latin – Leo – and the Greek – Leon.
What the lion is called in Swahili: Simba
Population: There is an estimated 29,000 to 47,000 in Africa and they are listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List
by the World Conservation Union.
Famous lions in Disney movies: The most famous are of course from the movie “The Lion King.” Here you have the patriarch Mufasa (Ooooo…say it again); Sarabi, the matriarch; Simba, the cub king; Nala, who becomes Simba’s mate and his voice of reason; and of course Scar, the big bad in “The Lion King” who was formerly known as Prince Taka, and Mufasa’s younger brother.
Other Disney wildlife photos
