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lion: Quick Facts

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News •

Lions and tigers are kept legally in Ontario backyards. No one knows how many there are • Nov. 10, 2026, 2:15 PM ET (CBC)
Lions are being poisoned in revenge attacks. Maasai warriors are trying to end the killings • Oct. 22, 2026, 4:03 AM ET (CNN)

Facts

Also Known As Panthera leo

Did You Know?

  • A lion's roar can be heard from 5 miles away.
  • Lions can run at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

Photos and Videos

A male lion
male lion
lion
A pride of African lions rests together on a grassy mound in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, with open savanna and trees in the background.
A group of lions in tall dry grass, with one lioness chasing a running warthog in the foreground.
A lioness lies in tall grass with two cubs beside her in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, with grassy plains and distant hills in the background.
A lioness stands alert on a grassy mound surrounded by eight lion cubs, with another adult lion resting nearby in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Illustration of a cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea), an extinct large cat, shown in profile walking on all fours with a muscular build, light brown fur, and a short mane. A scale bar in the corner indicates size.
Male lion (Panthera leo) with a full mane sits in tall golden grass on the savannah in Namibia, South Africa.
Close-up of a lion with its mouth wide open in a yawn, displaying large canine teeth and pink tongue.
Inside the Afri-Leo Foundation: Protecting lions in Namibia
Observe a predatory lion pride in a typical day of grooming, playing, hunting, eating prey, and sleeping
Follow wildlife filmmaker Andreas Kieling and learn about the Asiatic lions in the Gir National Park in western India
See All Videos and Images →

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