LIFE Lions
LIFE: Lions
The Magnificent Lion • WITH THEIR IMPOSING APPEARANCE AND STATURE, MENACING ROAR, AND PREDATORY PROWESS, LIONS HAVE LONG BEEN ADMIRED, WORSHIPPED, AND FEARED.
Masters of Their Domain • THESE MAJESTIC CREATURES HAVE ADAPTED TO REIGN (AND RELAX) IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
The Circle of Life • UNIQUELY AMONG BIG CATS, LIONS HAVE EVOLVED TO LEAD A HIGHLY SOCIAL LIFE AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.
The Rise of the Big Cats • IN THE WAKE OF DINOSAURS, VARIOUS FELINE SPECIES EVOLVED, LEADING TO TODAY’S MAJESTIC LIONS.
Inside the Pride • THE ONLY CATS WHO LIVE IN GROUPS, LIONS HAVE COMPLEX SOCIAL DYNAMICS, CALCULATED HUNTING STRATEGIES, AND COMMUNAL CUB-REARING RESPONSIBILITIES.
A Super-Size Pride • WHEN CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT—LOTS OF LAND AND AN ABUNDANCE OF PREY—LIONS CAN CLUSTER IN UNUSUALLY LARGE GROUPS LED BY A TEAM OF INTIMIDATING MALE ENFORCERS.
Just Can’t Wait to Be King • CURIOUS AND PLAYFUL, LION CUBS ARE STEADILY INITIATED INTO PRIDE LIFE, PREPARING FOR THEIR ADULT ROLES.
Wide World of Lions • AMERICA’S MOUNTAIN LIONS AND AFRICA’S RARE WHITE LIONS ARE VARIATIONS ON THE BIG CAT’S TRADITIONAL IDENTITY.
The Secrets of White Lions • THESE PALE BIG CATS ARE HARD TO MISS, DUE TO A RARE GENETIC MUTATION.
Lions of America • MOUNTAIN LIONS (AKA COUGARS, PUMAS, AND CATAMOUNTS) ARE THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE’S MOST FAMOUS BIG CATS.
Looking to Tomorrow • AS THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH HUMANS INCREASE, LIONS ARE UNDER THREAT IN AFRICA. EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE THE CONFLICTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF HOPE.
Famous Felines • OUR LOVE FOR LIONS HAS MADE THEM BOX OFFICE SUPERSTARS, AND SOME REAL-LIFE FAVORITES HAVE ALSO WON OUR HEARTS.
The King of All Lions • DESPITE BEHIND-THE-SCENES DISCORD AND LOW EXPECTATIONS, DISNEY’S THE LION KING WAS A BOX OFFICE SENSATION, SPAWNING AN EVER-GROWING FRANCHISE BASED ON THE WORLD OF PRIDE ROCK.
The Legend of Scarface • A REAL-LIFE BATTLE-TESTED SCRAPPER WAS FEARED AND REVERED IN THE KENYAN SAVANNA.
A Lion in the Living Room • IN 1971, LIFE MAGAZINE VISITED THE HOME OF ACTRESS TIPPI HEDREN, WHERE A LION NAMED NEIL WAS TREATED LIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY. TODAY, HEDREN ADVOCATES FOR MORE SENSIBLE AND COMPASSIONATE TREATMENT OF BIG CATS.
LIFE: Lions Photo Credits
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