Lions are the renowned king of the jungle. Not be the virtue of its size or speed but the mindset to rule and lead always. It takes several years for lions to attain the position of the king that rules the pride. Catch up the growth phases of lions as you read through
Reproduction and Lion’s Development
The gestation period of the lion is about 100 – 110 days, the pregnant female leaves the pride and finds a comfortable place to deliver. Depending on the nature of their habitat, the female lions will hide their newborn cubs in marshes or shrubs.
Female lions give birth to 1 to 6 cubs; the number of cubs born depends on the age and health condition of the mother. Lion cubs are born with their eyes open and they start walking within two or three hours after birth.
The cubs will nurse for up to 6-7 months and may stay with their mother for up to two years when they are fully mature. During this time, the cubs learn how to hunt and defend themselves from other lions. Cubs become independent at about 18 months of age; they can now start to hunt on their own.
Lion Size And Weight
How big a lion gets is dependent on several factors such as gender, health status, activity level as well as age to some extent. Naturally, the male lions are much larger than females.
The length of a female lion is typically between 4.6 and 5.7 feet, while the length of a male lion ranges between 5.6 and 8.3 feet. Their tail length is 27 to 41 inches. Female lions typically weigh between 270 and 400 pounds, while male lions can weigh anywhere from 330 and 570 pounds. The weight of a lion’s baby at birth is between 2 and 4 pounds.
How Long Does It Take For A Lion To Be Fully Grown?
Most lions, both male and female are fully grown at 4 years of age. There are a few factors that determine how long it takes for a lion to grow into adulthood: the species of lion, the gender of the lion, and the habitat. At maturity, all lions fully exhibit their innate characteristics.
Female lions reach sexual maturity at about 24 to 28 months in captivity and up to 36 to 46 months in the wild. The males leave the pride at about two to three years old and attempt to take over another male’s pride. A lion pride consists of three males, a dozen females, and their young
The mane of the male lion is the most distinctive feature; as the young male lion continues to mature, his mane will grow denser and darker, symbolizing his journey into adulthood and increasing power. A male lion’s mane will also help to tell you about his age and health.
Male lions reach their prime at about 6 years of age; they are the strongest, most aggressive, and ready to take over existing pride. Only the fiercest male becomes the head of the pride. The male lion dominates the pride for up to 9 years before being overthrown by another younger and stronger male.
Lastly, the lion is the second-largest animal after the tiger among the big cat family and has many titles, such as king of the jungle and king of beasts. A fully grown male lion in a lion pride deserves all the privilege it can take with his physical and mental strength.