{"id":4584,"date":"2021-04-23T07:49:09","date_gmt":"2021-04-23T07:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/?p=4584"},"modified":"2021-05-07T17:18:01","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T17:18:01","slug":"how-long-do-lions-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Do Lions Live?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Question:<\/strong> How long do lions live?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the wild, the lion can, on average, live about <strong>14 to 15 years<\/strong> whereas a lion in captivity can live for <strong>more than 20 years.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_47 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-661276d40859f\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-661276d40859f\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#The_Life_Expectancy_of_the_Lion\" title=\"The Life Expectancy of the Lion\">The Life Expectancy of the Lion<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#Lions_in_the_Wild\" title=\"Lions in the Wild&nbsp;\">Lions in the Wild&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#Lions_in_Captivity\" title=\"Lions in Captivity&nbsp;\">Lions in Captivity&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#Male_versus_Female\" title=\"Male versus Female&nbsp;\">Male versus Female&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#White_Lions\" title=\"White Lions&nbsp;\">White Lions&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#Lion_Fact\" title=\"Lion Fact&nbsp;\">Lion Fact&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#How_old_was_the_oldest_lion_to_have_lived\" title=\"How old was the oldest lion to have lived?\">How old was the oldest lion to have lived?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#How_long_does_a_lion_live_in_captivity\" title=\"How long does a lion live in captivity?\">How long does a lion live in captivity?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#Do_lions_ever_die_of_old_age\" title=\"Do lions ever die of old age?\">Do lions ever die of old age?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#How_do_the_majority_of_lions_in_the_wild_die\" title=\"How do the majority of lions in the wild die?\">How do the majority of lions in the wild die?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#How_long_does_it_take_for_a_lion_to_starve_to_death\" title=\"How long does it take for a lion to starve to death?\">How long does it take for a lion to starve to death?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#How_long_do_wild_lions_live\" title=\"How long do wild lions live?\">How long do wild lions live?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Life_Expectancy_of_the_Lion\"><\/span>The Life Expectancy of the Lion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A lion&#x2019;s life expectancy can differ depending on a number of factors, including wild versus captivity, male versus female, and subspecies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lions_in_the_Wild\"><\/span>Lions in the Wild&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#x2019;s take a look at the life expectancies between different subspecies:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">African Lions&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In the wild, the African lion usually lives no more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/lion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10 to 15 years<\/a> because of their exposure to other lions and human poachers, and the need to find their own food and water for survival.&nbsp; Unfortunately, only about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/41572-male-lion-survival.html#:~:text=are%20not%20easy.-,Only%20about%201%20in%208,survive%20to%20adulthood%2C%20Dereck%20said.&amp;text=All%20lions%20face%20high%20mortality,lions%20%E2%80%94%20more%20on%20that%20later.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1 in 8 male lion cubs<\/a> will survive adulthood and this is because the lion cub experiences many challenges, including injuries, food shortage, illness, and the unfortunate case of being killed by an adult lion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Asiatic Lions&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Asiatic lions who exist in India&#x2019;s protected Gir Forest have a lifespan of around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/animals\/mammals\/facts\/asiatic-lion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">16 to 18 years<\/a>. In 2010, the adult survival rate of the <a href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-many-subspecies-of-lion-are-there\/\">asiatic lion<\/a> was at 92 percent and mortality was around 66 percent, mostly due to natural causes. However, a report found at least 21 percent of deaths were a result of accidents outside the protected area, including lions falling down open wells on farmland, being run over by a train and poisoning after drinking contaminated water.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lions_in_Captivity\"><\/span>Lions in Captivity&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In captivity, a lion can live up to as much as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.org\/activity\/big-cats-in-captivity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">25 years<\/a>, almost doubling the life expectancy of a lion living in the wild. This is because in a zoo or controlled environment the lion does not have to be on the look out for predators and protect their food from uninvited visitors. Life in the wild can be stressful and they face many challenges to survive in the sometimes unforgiving desert. Unlike the captive lion who is under constant surveillance with regular health checks and, like humans, will undergo surgery to fix any illness or injury the lion may have.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Male_versus_Female\"><\/span>Male versus Female&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On average, the female lion will live <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/announcements\/scientists-investigate-why-females-live-longer-than-males\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">50 percent more<\/a> than their male counterpart. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/announcements\/scientists-investigate-why-females-live-longer-than-males\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Studies<\/a> suggest this is because female lionesses live together in a <a href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/what-is-a-group-of-lions-called\/\">pride<\/a>, hunt together and protect one another, as opposed to the male lion who often lives alone and will occasionally engage in fights with other males. However, there is yet to be any research into whether this uneven balance can be found with captive male and female lions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"White_Lions\"><\/span>White Lions&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A wild white lion&#x2019;s life expectancy is no different to the sandy-colored lion with a lifespan of approximately 14 to 15 years. However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/what-colors-are-lions\/\">white lion<\/a> faces more challenges than its sandy sibling, including color and rarity. Due to the lightened color of their fur, they lose the ability to camouflage into their surroundings thus exposing them to predators and compromising their hunting ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another major factor is that the white lion is often the target for poaching and commercial trophy hunting due to its rarity and has made them virtually extinct. Today, most white lions can only be seen in captivity where they can expect a life expectancy of around <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/US\/rare-white-lion-euthanized-ohio-zoo\/story?id=27736972#:~:text=The%20average%20life%20span%20for,the%20Cincinnati%20Zoo%20%26%20Botanical%20Garden.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">16.8 years<\/a>, according to the Cincinnati Zoo &amp; Botanical Garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lion_Fact\"><\/span>Lion Fact&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the wild lion faces starvation, the captive lion faces problems with obesity due to their inactivity and constant food source. Unlike the wild lion, a captive lion is continuously fed without having to hunt for their prey and as a result, they become lethargic and depressed negatively affecting their longevity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-727297e5\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span><span class=\"gb-icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" height=\"1em\" width=\"1em\" viewbox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M448 360V24c0-13.3-10.7-24-24-24H96C43 0 0 43 0 96v320c0 53 43 96 96 96h328c13.3 0 24-10.7 24-24v-16c0-7.5-3.5-14.3-8.9-18.7-4.2-15.4-4.2-59.3 0-74.7 5.4-4.3 8.9-11.1 8.9-18.6zM128 134c0-3.3 2.7-6 6-6h212c3.3 0 6 2.7 6 6v20c0 3.3-2.7 6-6 6H134c-3.3 0-6-2.7-6-6v-20zm0 64c0-3.3 2.7-6 6-6h212c3.3 0 6 2.7 6 6v20c0 3.3-2.7 6-6 6H134c-3.3 0-6-2.7-6-6v-20zm253.4 250H96c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32 0-17.6 14.4-32 32-32h285.4c-1.9 17.1-1.9 46.9 0 64z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"gb-headline-text\"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>People who ask, &#x2018;<strong>How long do Lions live?<\/strong>&#x2019; also ask;<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1620407808583\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_old_was_the_oldest_lion_to_have_lived\"><\/span>How old was the oldest lion to have lived?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Some records indicate that a female African lion named <a href=\"https:\/\/kidzfeed.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zenda<\/a> was <em>probably<\/em> the world&#x2019;s oldest lion. Zenda was held in captivity at Philadelphia Zoo, USA and lived to be 25 years old. However, in 2018, India&#x2019;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/bhopal\/india-s-oldest-lion-in-captivity-dies-at-28-in-bhopal\/story-RZprMLjY8Ww1rBFU7e6nfI.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">oldest lion<\/a> in captivity at Bhopal&#x2019;s Van Vihar National Park died at 28 years old crowning him the oldest lion to have lived <strong><em>so far.&#xA0;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1620407814654\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_a_lion_live_in_captivity\"><\/span>How long does a lion live in captivity?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>In captivity, a lion can live up to as much as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.org\/activity\/big-cats-in-captivity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">25 years<\/a>, almost doubling the life expectancy of a lion living in the wild.&#xA0;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1620407823076\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_lions_ever_die_of_old_age\"><\/span>Do lions ever die of old age?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p><strong>Yes, <\/strong>however, only about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/41572-male-lion-survival.html#:~:text=are%20not%20easy.-,Only%20about%201%20in%208,survive%20to%20adulthood%2C%20Dereck%20said.&amp;text=All%20lions%20face%20high%20mortality,lions%20%E2%80%94%20more%20on%20that%20later.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1 in 8 male lion cubs<\/a> will survive adulthood and this is because the lion cub experiences many challenges, including injuries, food shortage, illness, and the unfortunate case of being killed by an adult lion. If a cub is lucky enough to survive to adulthood, they will have a life expectancy of approximately 15 years (if all goes well).&#xA0;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1620407831044\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_the_majority_of_lions_in_the_wild_die\"><\/span>How do the majority of lions in the wild die?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-india-45636746\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">60 percent<\/a> of lions die of <strong>natural causes, <\/strong>although starvation, fights with other lions, and of course, poaching also add to the lion&#x2019;s high mortality rate.&#xA0;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1620407840676\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_for_a_lion_to_starve_to_death\"><\/span>How long does it take for a lion to starve to death?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Lions can go for at <a href=\"https:\/\/foxynature.com\/how-long-can-a-lion-go-without-eating-225\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">least 14 days<\/a> without eating (provided they were well-fed to begin with), however, after that they will begin to lose their conditioning and become weak. As a consequence, they become a target for other animals and are at further risk of death.&#xA0;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1620407849579\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_do_wild_lions_live\"><\/span>How long do wild lions live?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>In the wild, the lion usually lives no more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/lion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10 to 15 years<\/a> because of their exposure to other lions and human poachers, and the need to find their own food and water for survival. On the other hand, in captivity, the lion may live up to and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/animal\/lion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">over 25 years<\/a>, again, this is because they have a guaranteed food and water source and are kept from other lions and hunters.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Question: How long do lions live?&nbsp; In the wild, the lion can, on average, live about 14 to 15 years whereas a lion in captivity can live for more than 20 years.&nbsp; The Life Expectancy of the Lion A lion&#x2019;s life expectancy can differ depending on a number of factors, including wild versus captivity, male &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"How Long Do Lions Live?\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-long-do-lions-live\/#more-4584\" aria-label=\"More on How Long Do Lions Live?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/how-long-do-lions-live-scaled.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4584"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}