Lion Coloring Pages

Coloring pages with lion and lionesses for kids - we will move to Africa to see these animals in their natural environment in coloring pages for boys and girls. We will find these animals from fairy tales for sure you will recognize them as well as in many other interesting pictures.

Interesting facts and information about these African cats

Lions are always associated as a symbol of courage and strength. They come from the cat family and are second in size after tigers. Their roars can be heard from a distance of seven kilometers. The coat of the adult is yellow-gold and the young have a few bright spots that disappear with age. Only male lions have manes, impressive fringes of long hair that encircle their heads. They once roamed most of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe. But the species has disappeared from 94 percent of its historic range and today can only be found in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. These animals stick mainly to grasslands, scrublands and open forests where they can hunt their prey more easily, but they can live in most habitats outside tropical rainforests and deserts.

These animals are the only cats that live in groups - these are called herds. These are family units that can include anywhere from two to 40 lions - including up to three or four males, a dozen females, and their young. All the lionesses in a herd are related, and young females usually stay in the group as they get older. The young males eventually have to leave as they get a little older and have to start their own pack. Males defend their territory by marking the area with urine, roaring menacingly to warn intruders, and chasing away animals that encroach on their territory.

Females are the primary hunters and herd leaders. They often work together to prey on antelope, zebra, wildebeest and other large animals in the open grasslands. Many of these animals are faster than they are, so only teamwork pays off. Females also raise their cubs together. Today, there are only half as many African lions as there were 25 years ago. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that there are fewer than 25,000 lions left in Africa, so the organization classifies them as vulnerable to extinction.

These African cats face many threats - most of which can be attributed to humans. Fearing that lions will prey on their livestock, which can be a significant financial blow, ranchers may kill the animals both in retaliation and as a preventative measure, sometimes using pesticides as poison. Poachers also target this species because their bones and other body parts are valuable in the illegal wildlife trade. Trophy hunting of these animals also plays a negative role=.