The only truly social big cat
Lions live in prides, usually a group of related females with their cubs and a few males. Females do most of the hunting, often cooperating to bring down large prey, while males defend the pride’s territory.
The roar
A lion’s roar usually begins with a few deep moans and ends with a series of shorter grunts. It is most often given at night or around dawn and can be heard from several kilometres away on a still evening. Roaring helps keep prides apart and lets members find each other across open savannah.
A shrinking range
Lion numbers have fallen across much of Africa because of habitat loss, conflict with livestock keepers and loss of prey. Fenced reserves and community-run conservancies have helped some populations, while the Asiatic lions of Gir in Gujarat have grown from a very small number to several hundred under long-term protection.
Listen
What it sounds like: Roars that can carry several kilometres, plus grunts and moans.
To hear independent recordings, try Freesound. Check each recording’s licence before reusing it. See Media & Sources.
Further reading: How Animal Communication Works: Sounds, Signals and Meaning
Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.