You know what they say – “Know before you go.”  Here are five interesting facts all over lions, to get you ready for that Tanzanian safari  you’ve always wanted to take.

Male lions are responsible for protecting the pride from predators. Their manes darken as they age.

• Young lions have spots, which fade as they mature.
• Lions at the Smithsonian National Zoo  are fed beef, and horsetails once a week to keep their teeth and jaws strong.
• As recently as 10,000 years ago, lions roamed across the world from North and South America to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Today, they live only in the southern Sahara, South Africa, and India.
• Ancient images of lions can subsist found in the Lascaux caves  in France.
• Lions are highly social animals, and live in a matriarchal society. Female lions in a pride drudge together to hunt and care for their cubs, and are known to synchronize origin cycles to make cub care easier.

Ready to see some lions up close? Join Smithsonian Journeys for a Tanzania Safari. We’ve also designed a special family safari to Tanzania in July, 2010.

What’s your favorite big cat?

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