<~~Nikoma
- a male Lion bought at an auction, who originally belonged to a photographer. The photographer took pictures of children sitting next to Niki, and by state law was not allowed to display him after he weighed more than 40 pounds. His solution to this was to stop feeding the cat when he hit 35 pounds, and this caused Nikoma to develop rickets in his back legs, a condition which is much like arthritis in humans. When we bought Nikoma third hand at the auction, he could not walk, instead he dragged himself around on his front legs, and he was a third the weight that he should have been for his age. Since we've had him, he has healed nicely; he is now able to limp about, even run if the weather will permit, and is almost at his normal weight. He is still amazingly very sweet, probably due to his exposure to children in his childhood.
Sarabi~~>
- a Lioness born June of 1995 came to us with her brother Judah on April 26,
1995 at the age of three weeks. She was born to a Lioness named Friday and a Black Maned Lion
named Gunther who were both rescued by the Cerdarhill Sanctuary. She was able to run and
play at four weeks with no sign of dietary deficiency. She has the most lovable and social disposition
of any young kit we have brought in.
<~~Judah
- We sold Judah to a medical doctor and his wife who perform a
magic act and who successfully raised a happy and healthy Lioness three years ago.
<~~Elsa
This "King of Beasts" once roamed over most parts of the world including Africa, North America
and Eurasia. Today, however, they are restricted to the savanna, open expanses, and grassy plains
of Africa and to a small area of western India. There are about 50,000 lions in the wild today. The
shrinking numbers are due to hunting and overpopulation of humans. The Lion is the only cat that
lives in large social groups, shares their territory, and regularly hunts together.
The Lion's diet consists of wildebeests, antelope, zebras, wild pigs, buffalo, impalas, and other
hoofed mammals. Its head and body can be up to eight feet, two inches, and tail up to three feet, five
inches. Its weight can be up to 550 pounds.
One hundred and fifty years ago, there lived a subspecies of lion,Panthera leo
persica, which was found from India to the Middle East. Only an estimated
few hundred are alive today. They can be found in the Gir forest sanctuary in
Gujarat, in western India. In 1966 a sanctuary was set up in the Gir forest to
try and protect the surviving numbers of Asiatic Lions in India. They are
endangered due to hunting and other human factors.
Lions are primarily ground-dwellers, but occasionally jump up tree branches. In the Lion's habitat
they are the dominant carnivores and will drive away competitors or even kill them. Most Lions will
remain in the same territory all year long, however some are nomadic and follow the seasonal prey.
Lions live together in a pride based upon a group of related females (Lionesses) and their cubs.
Surprisingly, the pride is led by a dominant female. When a new male joins a pride it will drive away
the other males and kill any remaining cubs, then mate with the females to produce his own offspring.
After a gestation period of 15-17 weeks, the Lioness will give birth to up to six cubs. All of the
Lionesses in the pride share in the rearing of the cubs and the males may even be playful with them.
The Lionesses do all the hunting in large number of groups or pairs. Using stealth they will approach
the prey until it is in range then lunge and kill the prey by biting its neck.
