Asiatic lion at Paignton Zoo, Devon
Class: Mammals
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
The Asiatic lion is native to the dense vegetation and grasslands in the Gir Forest of India.
They are opportunistic carnivores and will hunt antelope, deer, cattle and small mammals.
Conservation
This big cat is Endangered, facing threats of poaching and habitat degradation, with less than 600 individuals living in the wild today. The Gir Forest where they live is now a protected area, and there are conservation breeding programmes in European zoos.
Our lion is part of the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme (EEP).