Lionライオン

Panthera leoVU— Vulnerable

The lion is Africa's largest big cat and the only wild cat that lives in stable social groups called prides. Once ranging across Africa, the Middle East, and southern Eurasia, it is now largely restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, with a single surviving Asiatic population in India's Gir Forest. African lion numbers have fallen roughly 43% since the early 1990s, and the IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable.

Lion (reference photo)
Photo: Falense / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Carnivora / Felidae Source
Size
Head-body length: males 184–208 cm, females 160–184 cm
Weight
Southern African averages: males about 186.6–225 kg, females about 118.4–143.5 kg
Lifespan
Wild: 12–17 years / captive: over 20 years
Diet
Carnivore Carnivorous, preying mainly on medium to large ungulates such as wildebeest and zebra; also scavenges carrion
Activity
Spends about 20 hours a day resting and becomes active from dusk into the night
Distribution
Today confined mainly to sub-Saharan Africa, with a single relict population of the Asiatic subspecies in India's Gir Forest; historically it ranged across Africa, the Middle East, and southern Eurasia. Source
Sources
ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

  • The lion is the most social of all wild cats, forming prides of roughly 15 individuals built around stable groups of related females. Source
  • The mane not only protects the neck in fights but also signals a male's health and testosterone levels to potential mates. Source
  • Skeletal muscle makes up 58.8% of a male lion's body weight — the highest proportion recorded among mammals. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 42

Adventure WorldWakayamaOpened in 1978

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Ishikawa DoubutsuenIshikawaAbout 60 minutes from the Kanazawa-Morimoto Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway, about 40 minutes from the Kanazawa-Nishi Interchange, and about 20 minutes from the Komatsu Interchange.

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Obihiro DoubutsuenHokkaidoFrom Obihiro Station, take the Tokachi Bus (Route 70, bound for Ozora Danchi) for about 18 minutes to the Dobutsuen-mae stop, then walk about 300 m; or take the Takushoku Bus for about 16 minutes to the Midorigaoka 6-chome Hakubutsukan Iriguchi stop, then walk about 600 m.

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Gokatsuraike Animal ParkMieAbout 10 minutes from the Seiwa-Taki Interchange.

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Shirotori ZooKagawaBy car, about 10 minutes from the Hiketa Interchange on the Takamatsu Expressway via National Route 11 toward Takamatsu.

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Tokushima ZooTokushima

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Wan Park Kouchianimaru LandKochiAddress: 6-9-1 Sanbashi-dori, Kochi (inside Wanpark Kochi).

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Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime PrefectureEhimeOpened in 1988

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Asahiyama ZooHokkaidoOpened in 1967

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Utsunomiya DoubutsuenTochigiAbout 5 minutes from the Utsunomiya IC on the Tohoku Expressway; free parking for 1,000 cars.

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Yokohama Shiritsu Yokohama DoubutsuenKanagawaOpened in 1999

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Yokohama Shiritsu Nogeyama DoubutsuenKanagawaOpened in 1951

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Okinawa Zoo & MuseumOkinawaOpened in 1970

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Iwate SafariParkIwateAbout 45 minutes from the Ichinoseki IC, about 30 minutes from the Wakayanagi-Kannari IC, or about 25 minutes via National Route 284.

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Kyoto City ZooKyotoOpened in 1903

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Kiryuugaoka DoubutsuenGunmaIf driving, set your car navigation to "Kiryugaoka Amusement Park" (Kiryugaoka Yuenchi) rather than "Kiryugaoka Zoo" to reach the parking lot (searching by the zoo name may give an incorrect route).

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African safariOitaBy car, the park is about 6 km (about 7 minutes) from the Beppu-wan Smart IC.

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Kumamotoshi DoushokubutsuenKumamotoTake the tram bound for Kengun and get off at the Doshokubutsuen-Iriguchi stop, then walk 10 minutes.

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Hiroshima City Asa Zoological ParkHiroshimaFrom JR Hiroshima Station, take the Sanyo Main Line or Kabe Line to Shin-Hakushima Station, transfer to the Astram Line to Kamiyasu Station, then take a bus to "Asa Dobutsu Koen" (about 45 minutes in total).

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Sapporoshimaruyama DoubutsuenHokkaidoOpened in 1951

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Hirakawa ZooKagoshimaAbout a 20-minute walk from Goino Station on the JR Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line, or take a bus bound for Taniyama / Dobutsuen from Fukuhira Nokyo-mae to the last stop.

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Akitashioomoriyama DoubutsuenAkitaFrom bus stop 7 at the west exit of the JR Akita Station bus terminal, take the Akita Chuo Kotsu "Araya Line" bus for about 30 minutes.

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KOMORO ZOONaganoAddress: 311 Cho, Komoro, Nagano Prefecture (inside Kaikoen).

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OJI ZOOHyogo3 minutes on foot west from Oji-Koen Station on the Hankyu line.

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Saikaikokuritsu Kouen Kujuukushima DoushokubutsuenNagasakiOpened in 1961

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Sendaishiyagiyama Doubutsu KouenMiyagiTake the Sendai Subway Tozai Line to Yagiyama Zoological Park Station; the zoo is right by the elevator from Central Exit 1 (about 12 minutes from Sendai Station).

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Chiba Zoological ParkChibaOpened in 1985

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Oouchiyama DoubutsuenMieAbout a 30-minute walk from Ouchiyama Station on the JR Kisei Main Line (the zoo's own directions also describe it as about 1 km).

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Omuta City ZooFukuokaOpened in 1941

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Naganoshichausuyama DoubutsuenNaganoThe nearest station is JR Shinonoi Station.

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Tennoji ZooOsakaOpened in 1915

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Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

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TOBU ZOOSaitamaFrom Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station (west exit), about 10 minutes on foot (600 m) or about 5 minutes by bus.

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Tohoku SafariParkFukushimaAddress: 1 Sawamatsukura, Nihonmatsu, Fukushima.

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Nasu SafariParkTochigiAbout 15 minutes from the Nasu IC or about 25 minutes from the Kuroiso-Itamuro IC on the Tohoku Expressway.

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Himeji Shiritsu DoubutsuenHyogoOpened in 1951

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Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

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Fuji Safari ParkShizuokaOpened in 1980

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Fukuoka Zoo & Botanical GardenFukuokaOpened in 1953

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Fukuyama Shiritsu DoubutsuenHiroshimaThere is no public transportation; access is by car.

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Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

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Tama ZooTokyoOpened in 1958

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Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

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Closed: 2025-09-30 Official Site

Temporarily closed facilities

Koufushiyuuki Kouen Fuzoku DoubutsuenYamanashi

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Temporarily closed Official Site

Latest news

6

Open the news index

Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Vulnerable (VU)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why do lions live in groups when most cats are solitary?
Lions form prides of related females and a small number of males because cooperative hunting and cub defense improve survival on the open savanna, a strategy unique among wild cats. Source
Are lions endangered?
The IUCN lists the lion as Vulnerable. African populations have declined by about 43% since the early 1990s due to habitat loss and conflict with humans. Source
Where do wild lions live today?
Almost all wild lions now live in sub-Saharan Africa, with a single small population of the Asiatic subspecies surviving in India's Gir Forest National Park. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 42 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org