Modern Weights and Measurements of Wild Lions

[TemptingFate]

(07-15-2022, 01:18 PM)Jerricson Wrote: I recently enquired a researcher , who's collared some lions in Botswana , regarding the body mass of largest male and female specimen he's darted so far(excluding stomach content). The following was his response :

"Good afternoon

Largest male we weighed was 235 kg on an almost empty stomach. Female was 180 kg, stomach almost empty.
Regards"

Next , I asked him from which region of Botswana do these specimens specifically belong to and if he can share any more weights of lions he's immobilized . Following was his response :

"Hi

These lions were in the Okavango Delta. I remember only the two heaviest lions.
regards"

I'm happy that we finally have some weights for Okavango Delta lions but at the same time , we just know the heaviest specimens recorded there. Hopefully , in the future , these researchers will share further data on the body mass and body measurements of these lions.

Wow. 

Thanks for this interesting data Jerricson. I would be interested to know how many lions were weighed.

A male lion of 235 kg on an almost empty stomach is definitely very large but by far (carefully expressed) not the maximum. But a lioness of 180 kg on a nearly empty stomach is the maximum (it would proportionally correspond to a male of 250-272 kg on a nearly empty stomach, to put it in perspective). As far as I know, a young lion was measured in Okavango Delta (197.5 cm and 130.5 cm chest) and was estimated at 240 kg by the wildlife veterinarian. I had long ago contacted Eric Vereyyne, who immobilized numerous lions in the Okavango Delta. He wrote to me that he estimated the largest lion he darted at well over 250 kg. Unfortunately i do not have more information regarding the delta lions. As far as I know another lioness in Kalahari weighed 183 kg but no reference was made to stomach contents (MacFarlane Thesis 2014).

In contrast to your information, I had received information from the Kruger National Park. I am not sure yet if I should share this here. 

About 30 years ago 5 male lions were immobilized in Kruger National Park. The 5 males weighed 230-240 kg with the heaviest weighed 240 kg. They did not eat for 2 days, indicating that had little stomach contents. Reply