lion

Physical appearance: Asiatic Lion is the second largest of the "Big Cats" after the Tiger. A fully- grown male lion can reach 9 feet long including its 3-foot long tail, with a dark tuft of fur at the end. An Asiatic Lion can reach upto a size of about 4 feet tall and can weigh over 200 Kg. Lionesses are smaller in size, but equally ferocious. Lionesses are usually sandy or tawny in color. Male lions can range in color from orange-yellow to dark brown. Habitat: Asiatic Lions live in open grasslands or forests, including scrub jungle. Lions have been known to occasionally climb trees but are usually seen on the ground.
Diet: Asiatic Lions are carnivores and hunt for their prey. They prey includes various species of deer, antelope and wild cattle or buffalo. (In Africa lions also eat zebra and wildebeest. Lions have also been observed attacking the young of hippopotamus or elephants in Africa.)

Behavior: Asiatic Lions are the only Big Cats to live in large groups or "prides". Prides usually consist of around 15 members, including several related lionesses, their cubs and a few males. The lionesses do most of the hunting, while the males defend the pride's territory. Lions establish their territorial boundaries by roaring and scent marking. Lionesses usually stalk their prey, until they manage to approach nearby and then attack, killing their prey with a bite to the neck. Young male lions are usually expelled from the pride after they are around 3 years old. Young female lions may stay with the pride or join other prides. Many male lions remain solitary and do not join any pride.
Status: Asiatic Lions are a gravely endangered species. The last surviving Asiatic Lions in the Gir Forest in Gujarat are threatened by habitat loss and human encroachment. However they are recognized as extremely threatened and efforts are on to promote a captive breeding program in various zoos across India.
Tourists can see the Asiatic Lion in the wild, in the Gir Forest National Park in India. Lions can also be seen in zoos across India and in animal parks such as the Bannerghatta National Park near Bangalore, where big cats rescued from zoos are rehabilitated.