Male lion have a tawny mane, which gradually grows darker with age, whereas female lions do not have manes. The lion's mane makes it appear larger and more impressive. Manes are thought to assist the male in attracting females at mating time as well as frightening off rival males. Cubs are camouflaged with a slightly spotted coat at birth and gradually turn a tawny color by the end of their first year. Currently, there are fragmented populations in western, northeastern, eastern and southern Africa.
Optimal habitat is open grasslands with thick bush and scrub for cover when hunting and denning.
The are able to virtually adapt to any habitat ranging from barren sub-desert to Savannah grasslands to open woodlands. Lions are incompatible with human populations and now occur only in parks, reserves and undeveloped areas. An estimate of the number of lions in the wild is not available. It is obvious that lion populations are becoming increasingly fragmented, and only those populations in national parks and reserves are likely to survive. Lions which are found outside protected areas are generally viewed as problem or dangerous animals and are severely persecuted.