|
|
Litters consist of two or three cubs that weigh about 3 pounds each. Some mothers carefully nurture the young; others may neglect or abandon them, especially when food is scarce. Usually two or more females in a pride give birth about the same time. A lioness will permit cubs other than her own to suckle, sometimes enabling a neglected infant to survive. Capable hunters by 2 years of age, lions become fully grown between 5 and 6 years and normally live about 13 years. Lions have long been killed in rituals of bravery, as hunting trophies and for their medicinal and magical powers. Although lions are now protected in many parts naui dive tables of africa, they were once considered to be stock-raiding vermin and were killed on sight. in some areas, livestock tables predation remains a severe problem. early written records described the giraffe as "magnificent in appearance, bizarre in form, unique in dive tables gait, colossal in height and inoffensive in character." cheetahs do not roar like lions, but they purr, hiss, whine and growl. they also make a variety of contact calls; the most common is a birdlike chirping sound. once a cheetah has made a kill, it eats quickly and keeps an eye out for scavengers lions; leopards, hyenas, vultures and jackals will occasionally tables take away their kills. dive although cheetahs usually prey on the smaller antelopes such as thomson''s gazelles and impalas, they can catch wildebeests and zebras if hunting together. they also hunt hares and other small mammals and birds. although known as an animal of the open plains that relies on speed to catch its prey, research has shown that the cheetah depends on cover to stalk prey. the cheetah gets as close to the prey as possible, then in a burst of speed tries to outrun its quarry. once the cheetah closes in, it knocks the prey to tables the ground with its paw.
|