Lions often referred to as kings of the jungles are predatory animals that rule the ecosystems they belong to. This type of animal is known for their meat-eating diets.
We know a thing or two about lions. Nevertheless, many people wonder if lions hibernate during cold weather or in case of food shortage.
Do lions hibernate?
No, lions do not hibernate in the winter. The reason for this is that they have enough food to sustain themselves all year round since they live in hot African habitats.
Hibernation is a way for animals to survive harsh conditions. They hibernate to preserve their energy during the winter and since lions have access to food, hibernation is not needed.
Can’t Go Without Food
Although lions can survive without eating for up to two weeks in very extreme situations, they can’t hibernate since they need to hunt everyday. Lions who go without food for about a month start to diminish its strength, making it difficult for them to hunt.
No Metabolism Changes
In addition, lions can’t reduce their metabolism. Hibernation is a method some animals choose to survive periods of harsh climate and during this period, animals can reduce their metabolism to around 25%.
Unfortunately, lions can’t reduce their metabolism and they burn at least 8000 calories per day to sustain their daily life.
Life-threatening Risk
Hibernating animals need to find a safe place where predators won’t be a threat. While finding a safe place is easy for small animals, most big animals like lions don’t have that privilege.
While lions are on top of the food chain, they are not alone. They share their habitat with other predators.
Hence, it’s hard for the lions to find a good spot where they are safe from other predators like cheetahs, leopards or hyenas.
Do lions migrate?
Lions do not migrate. Unlike animals that migrate have a hard time finding food sources during the winter, lions live in climates where the food source is available during the entire year. They do not change their location.
Can lions survive in the snow?
No. Lions are types of animals that evolved to live in dry and hot climates so it would be impossible for them to survive in the snow. These strong predators would most likely freeze to death in the snow because their body structure and thin fur are not suited for cold places.
Moreover, lions need enormous amounts of meat because of their social way of life and since regions covered with snow have limited animals, there is not enough food for these predators to survive.
What temperatures do lions live in?
While a small group of lions resides in Western India, the majority of lions live in sub-Saharan Africa which have temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.
What is the lowest temperature a lion can survive?
Just like the tigers, lions stay outside in the winter unless the temperature dips below 40 degrees. But when in the zoo, keepers assess the animals’ behavior before sending them outside.
Can lions survive in cold weather?
Lions are for the heat so they can’t survive the cold weather. Most lions evolved in the hot savanna of Africa, where temperatures stay around 104 degrees Fahrenheit. So for them to survive cold weather, they need to have thick fur coats and they would also need to hibernate through the cold winter period.
Although lions are famously known for their great hunting skill, they are not skilled at catching animals in deep snow. So, it’s impossible for them to survive in cold places.
What do lions do in the winter?
Lions tolerate the cold poorly and they can die if exposed to low temperatures for too long.
During the cold season, lions’ feeding activity becomes irregular or might stop. When it’s freezing, they remain more than 12 hours a day in their den, waiting for the weather to warm up.
Can lions survive in the Arctic?
Yes, lions can somehow survive in the Arctic. But it’s worth noting that living at such low temperatures for an extended time would likely take its toll on our favorite feline species’ health.
Asiatic lions live in India where winter temperatures can drop to 10-celsius degrees for weeks. However, their fur is not thick enough to protect them from the cold. The only thing they can do to protect themselves against low winter temperatures is huddle together.