Asiatic Lions

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Asiatic Lions
The photographs on this page are from the official Paignton Zoo site and were taken by local amateur photographer Kelvin Halloran The Asiatic lion was once widespread throughout Southwest Asia. Today the species can only be found in a single location in the wild, the Gir forest in India. Although genetically distinct from the Sub-Saharan African lion, the difference is less than that found between different human racial groups. The closeness in genetic make-up between Asiatic and African lions indicates that the two populations seperated as recently as 100,000 years ago.


The Lioness becomes sexually mature at 3-4 years old. In males sexual maturity is not reached until between 5 and 8 years. Females may come into season at any time during the year and give birth to litters of between 1 and 5 cubs. The average litter is 2-3 cubs. Both males and females may continue to breed up to 15 years old. Approximately one-third of cubs die within their first year, this mortality rate falls to less than 10% for adult lions. In the Gir, females live on average for 17-18 years, but may live up to 21 years. Males, on average, live up to 16 years.