Question

At present, the lions (Panthera leo) are found only in
A) Africa
B) India
C) Both India and Africa
D) Zoos

Answer 1

Hint:Panthera leo is the second largest animal in the cat family of Felidae. It is mostly seen in grasslands and savannas but is not found in dense forests. It is an apex predator.

Complete answer:
To answer this question, we must know about the distribution of lions across the globe.
Lions have been listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN red data list. Lions prefer to live in grasslands and are absent in the equatorial rain forest. The most commonly species of lions found are
African lions are scattered in African grasslands. It is also seen in savannah grasslands.

Asiatic lions are found only in the Gir National park in Gujarat India. It is one of the most critically endangered subspecies of lions. It was found in the Middle East and Africa but is now extinct in these regions. Its habitat includes dry savannah forests, dry deciduous scrub forest.

Additional Information: The most distinct feature of lions is the presence of mane. It is present in male lions. The colour of the mane varies with age. Asiatic lions have less dense mane as compared to African lions.

Thus the correct answer is option (C). At present, the lions (Panthera leo) are found only in India and Africa.

Note:The decline in the number of lions is mainly due to habitat loss, epidemic diseases, climate changes and natural calamities. Another reason for the decline in number is due to the human activities like hunting and poaching.