Set up in 2015, this live cam shows the home of Nikita, a lioness that came to Big Cat Sanctuary after being seized in a drug raid and then sent to a zoo. At nearly 500 pounds, Nikita is larger than even most male lions! Look for her in her favorite spots: up on the platform and in the bushes in back.
Where do lions live?
Lions are found in 27 African countries and India. This may sound like a lot, but lion populations have dropped dramatically in the last century. Today, lions are extinct in 26 countries and occupy just 10% of their historic range.
How big is Nikita?
Nikita weighs almost 500 pounds, which is larger than most male lions! Typically, lions measure 5-8 feet, not including their tails, which can stretch an additional 3+ feet. Male lions can reach over 500 pounds, but it’s uncommon for females.
Are lions endangered?
Lions are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It’s estimated that only about 20,000 lions remain in the wild (up from as many as 200,000 years a century ago).
What threats do lions face?
One of the primary threats facing lions is conflict with humans. As human populations grow, people and lions live in increasingly closer quarters, and people’s livestock are easy targets for hungry lions. In places where families’ livelihoods depend entirely on their livestock, many people will kill lions in retaliation for (or to prevent) killing livestock.
Another serious threat to lions is bushmeat poaching, or the illegal hunting of wild animals. Though lions are typically not the target of bushmeat poachers, the snares set for their prey can catch and kill a lion as well.
Are lions social?
Unlike most big cats, lions are known for being social creatures. They live in family groups called prides, which typically consist of three males, 10-15 females, and their offspring. Female cubs will remain with the pride for life, but male cubs will disperse to find their own territory once they reach sexual maturity.
Within a pride, females are the primary hunters while males defend the territory.
What is Big Cat Rescue?
Big Cat Rescue is one of the largest accredited sanctuaries in the world dedicated to providing a permanent home for abused and abandoned big cats.
Located in Tampa, Florida, Big Cat Rescue is home to more than seventy lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars and other felid species. Many of the residents at Big Cat Rescue were abandoned, abused, orphaned or rescued from private trade or performing acts.
Big Cat Rescue’s mission is to provide a safe home to cats in need, end private possession of wild cats, stop the abuse of big cats in captivity, and prevent the extinction of big cats in the wild. That’s what Tiger Lake does. You can learn more on their website.
Learn More About Explore.org
EXPLORE is the largest live nature cam network on the planet. Their goal is bring nature to you, raw, unscripted, and unedited. Enjoy the natural world as it unfolds in real time in front of our cameras. EXPLORE.org takes you from Kenya, Africa to the riverbanks of Katmai, Alaska and everywhere in between.
Mindful Living Network is proud to feature many of EXPLORE’s amazing cams here on our site. You can check out all of EXPLORE’s live cams and highlight reels on this section of their website. EXPLORE’s mission is to champion the selfless acts of others, create a portal into the soul of humanity and inspire lifelong learning. That sounds pretty good to us! If you’d like, you can learn more about EXPLORE on their website, www.explore.org
