Sandra Thorpe, age 91, of Somerset, N.J., for her question:
IS THE LION REALLY A GREAT HUNTER?
Wild lions have to kill to live. They live on meat from zebra, antelope, warthog and buffalo and supplement their diets with fish, guinea fowl and even turtles. A male lion can eat 75 pounds of meat in one meal. Sometimes he may not be able to catch anything to eat for a week, so it often becomes a case of feast or famine in lion country.
"King of beasts" is a title the lion has earned. The big cat is undoubtedly the most powerful member of his family and one of the animals most feared by other residents of the wilds.The adult male lion is a great hunter, since he must hunt in order to survive. His brownish yellow coat is the same color as dead grass, which makes it ideal for hiding.
Shoulders and forelegs of the lion are tremendously muscular. They give him the strength to catch his prey and pull it to the ground. Each heavy paw is equipped with curved claws that hook and hold the prey. When not in use, the claws withdraw into a sheath so the claws stay sharp.
Thirty teeth are in the lion's mouth, and some have special purposes. Four pointed teeth called canines are used to hold the prey, kill it and tear the meat. Four powerful cheek teeth are called carnassils. These are used for cutting through tough skin and the tendons that join bone and muscles. None of the lion's teeth can be used for chewing. All members of the family swallow food in chunks without chewing it first.
A powerful male lion will usually weigh between 350 and 400 pounds. He'll be about nine feet long from nose to end of tail. At the shoulder he'll measure about three and a half feet. Females are about a foot shorter and weigh between 250 and 300 pounds.
One male lion can drag a 600 pound zebra across a field and into a shady spot, providing a feast for his pride. Six men would find this a very difficult job to handle.
Most wild lions today are found on the African plains. The Asiatic lion is an endangered species now, with only about 200 living in the Gir Forest in India. All that used to live in the Middle East have been killed by human hunters.
The lion tries to avoid contacts with man. He rarely attacks people unless he is tormented or injured.
Lions have lived in captivity for hundreds of years. Thousands live in zoos in every country of the world, and many hundreds are employed to do tricks in circuses and wild animal parks.
Lion cubs born in captivity can be tamed and trained easily. When small, they make wonderful pets. But since they are so strong and potentially dangerous, they can't be kept in private homes or as regular companions to children.