# Lion reproduction and cubs

> An in-depth guide to lion reproduction: mating frequency and oestrus, the 110-day gestation, litter size, communal cub-rearing, infanticide, and why so few cubs survive.

- **Species:** Lion (*Panthera leo*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Carnivore
- **Habitat:** Savanna, grassland, open woodland
- **Lifespan:** 10–14 years in the wild
- **Top speed:** 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lion/lion-reproduction/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lion/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Lions are large social cats native to sub-Saharan Africa, with a small population in India's Gir Forest. They live in groups called prides, can weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb), and are the only cats that hunt cooperatively. Wild lions typically live 10 to 14 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Lion profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lion/) instead.

## Behavior and social structure

Lions are the most social of all big cats, living in prides of related females, their cubs, and a small coalition of males. Females do most of the hunting and stay with the pride for life, while males defend the territory and the pride's borders. Lions can rest for up to 20 hours a day, conserving energy for short, explosive hunts at dawn and dusk.

## Help protect the Lion

The lion is listed as Vulnerable, with habitat loss the leading threat to its future.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/lion/lion-reproduction/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.