African Lions - Disney Animals

Though lions are called the “King of the Jungle,” they don’t actually live in jungles or rainforests. Instead, lions live on the flat, grassy savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa, from the Serengeti plains all the way to South Africa.

Unlike most cats, lions are highly social, living in family groups (prides) that are ruled and protected by a dominant male. Prides typically consist of 20 to 30 lions, most of them closely related females and their cubs.

Be on the lookout for lions during these experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris, a Guest-favorite attraction
• Savor the Savanna, a private safari that includes tasty tapas and beverages
• Wild Africa Trek, a thrilling, 3-hour tour

Disney animal care experts have created enriching environments for lions. The lion habitats are inspired by the African savanna—featuring open spaces with sweeping views, tall grass and large trees for shade and cover.

Here’s a look inside the life of a lion at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park:

• Aromatherapy: To promote instinctive behaviors and exercise, the lions are provided with super-tough plastic balls that are stuffed with the lions’ favorite scents—cinnamon, clove and pumpkin pie.
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• Refreshments: To help them cool off on a hot summer day, the lions are given raw meat or fish frozen in a block of ice. This big-cat snack also encourages them to use their teeth, claws and ingenuity to get to the treat inside.
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• Veterinary Care and Behavior Training: Sound cues are used to move lions from their on-show habitat spaces to their night housing, where they can voluntarily step onto a scale and participate in their own preventive health exams.

Habitat loss created by droughts, soil erosion, overgrazing and human expansion is causing lion populations in the wild to decline in alarming numbers.

The Walt Disney Company is committed to saving wildlife and protecting the magic of nature together as a global community. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund* has supported lion conservation efforts and helped unite communities and conservationists leading efforts to protect lions across their range in Africa.