Lion - Breeding and Reproduction

de Barros, J.B.G., T.A.R. de Paula, S.L.P. daMatta, C.C. Fonseca, F.L.G. Leite, J.L. Rossi, P.C. de Oliveira, and E.P. daCosta (2007). Sertoli cell index and spermatic reserves in adult captive African lions (Panthera leo, Linnaeus, 1758). Animal Reproduction Science 102(3-4): 350-356. ISSN: 0378-4320.
Online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.04.002
NAL Call Number: QP251.A5
Descriptors: lions, Panthera leo, Sertoli cells, spermatozoa, adult animals, captive animals, males, spermatogenesis, testes, animal reproduction.

Diniz, L.S.M., M.P. Holzchuh, V. Barnabe, C.A. Oliveira, and E.O. Costa (1996). Controle da reproducao de leoas (Panthera leo) em cativeiro: implante de contraceptivos de longa duracao. [Control of reproduction of captive lionesses (Panthera leo): long-term implanted contraceptive]. Hora Veterinaria (Brazil) 16(94): 60-64. ISSN: 0101-9163.
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, females, captivity, contraceptives, control of reproduction, oestrous cycle, oestrus synchronization, biological rhythms, reproduction, control of reproduction, long term inplanted contraceptive.
Language of Text: Portuguese, Summaries in English and Spanish.

Hashizaki, F., N. Kohno, E. Narushima, K. Tashiro, M. Inoue, T. Komine, K. Yamakawa, A. Takagi, and M. Saitoh (1981). Contraception of vasectomy procedure for male lions, Panthera leo, at Tama Zoological Park [Japan]. Journal of Japanese Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums 22(4): 100-103. ISSN: 0386-7498.
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, contraception, vasectomy procedure, male, Tama Zoological Park, Japan.
Language of Text: Japanese, Summary in English.

Munson, L., J.L. Brown, M. Bush, C. Packer, D. Janssen, S.M. Reiziss, and D.E. Wildt (1996). Genetic diversity affects testicular morphology in free-ranging lions (Panthera leo) of the Serengeti Plains and Ngorongoro Crater. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility (United Kingdom) 108(1): 11-15. ISSN: 0022-4251.
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, free ranging, genetic diversity, affects, testicular mophology, Serengeti Plains, Nngorongoro Crater.

Natoli, E. (1990). Mating strategies in cats: a comparison of the role and importance of infanticide in domestic cats, Felis catus L., and lions, Panthera leo L. Animal Behaviour 40(1): 183-186. ISSN: 0003-3472.
NAL Call Number: 410 B77
Descriptors: lions, Panthera leo, domestic cats, Felis catus, mating behavior, infant mortality, reproduction , infanticide, species comparison.

Ofri, R., L.S. Shore, P.H. Kass, and I.H. Horowitz (1999). The effect of elevated progesterone levels on intraocular pressure in lions (Panthera leo). Research in Veterinary Science 67(2): 121-123. ISSN: 0034-5288.
NAL Call Number: 41.8 R312
Abstract: Recently, we reported that intraocular pressure (IOP) in juvenile male lions (Panthera leo) is significantly higher than in juvenile lionesses. Whilst we could not ascertain the basis for this gender-related difference, we suspected that they were the result of fluctuations in levels of sex hormones. Because 19 of the 22 lions described in our previous report had to be re-anaesthetized, we repeated tonometry in these animals, to try and correlate between IOP and the levels of progesterone, oestrogen and/or testosterone. Based on elevated (>5 ng ml-1) levels of progesterone, lionesses were divided into a luteal (n=8) and a non-luteal (n=13) group. In the luteal group, mean IOP was 27.07 +/- 2.15 mm Hg, significantly (P=0.001) higher than in the non-luteal group (21.61 +/- 2.70 mm Hg). Oestrogen, testosterone, anesthesia and age had no significant effect on IOP. It is suggested that elevated progesterone levels associated with the luteal phase in lionesses cause increased resistance to aqueous humor outflow, leading to IOP elevation. Similar ocular hypertension has been observed in rabbits following exogenous progesterone application, but this is the first report on the hypertensive effect of endogenous progesterone on top.
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, progesterone, eyes, gender differences, estrogens, testosterone, intraocular pressure, elevated progesterone levels, sex hormones, levels.

Schramm, R.D., M.B. Briggs, and J.J. Reeves (1994). Spontaneous and induced ovulation in the lion (Panthera leo). Zoo Biology 13(4): 301-307. ISSN: 0733-3188.
NAL Call Number: QL77.5.Z6
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, induced, spontaneous, ovulation, copulation, progesterone, blood, estrus, interestrous interval.

Tefera, M. (2003). Phenotypic and reproductive characteristics of lions (Panthera leo) at Addis Ababa Zoo. Biodiversity and Conservation 12(8): 1629-1639. ISSN: 0960-3115.
NAL Call Number: QH75.A1 B562
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, animal breeding, reproductive characteristics, zoo animals, sexual reproduction, phenotypic characteristics, wildlife management, Ethiopia, captive breeding.

Trinkel, M., N. Ferguson, A. Reid, C. Reid, M. Somers, L. Turelli, J. Graf, M. Szykman, D. Cooper, P. Haverman, G. Kastberger, C. Packer, and R. Slotow (2008). Translocating lions into an inbred lion population in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, South Africa. Animal Conservation 11(2): 138-143. ISSN: 1367-9430.
Online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2008.00163.x
NAL Call Number: QH75.A1 A54
Abstract: A fundamental problem in conservation biology is the risk of inbreeding in fragmented and declining populations. In the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP), a small, enclosed reserve in South Africa, a large lion Panthera leo population arose from a founder group of five individuals in the 1960s. The HiP lion population went through a persistent decline and showed indications of inbreeding depression. To restore the genetic variation of the inbred HiP lion population, new lions were translocated into the existing population. Translocated females formed stable associations and established enduring pride areas with other translocated lionesses, but did not bond into native female prides. The translocated male coalition was more successful in gaining and maintaining residence in a pride than the translocated lone male that split off on his own from the male coalition. Litter size and cub survival was about twice as high for pairings involving at least one translocated parent than for pairings of two native lions. It is therefore possible to infuse new genes rapidly and successfully into a small, isolated lion population. Such translocations may become an important adaptive management tool as lion populations become increasingly fragmented.
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, inbreeding, population dynamics, translocation, inbred population, translocated lions, litter size, cub survival.

Umapathy, G., S.D. Sontakke, K. Srinivasu, T. Kiran, S.D. Kholkute, and S. Shivaji (2007). Estrus behavior and fecal steroid profiles in the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) during natural and gonadotropin induced estrus. Animal Reproduction Science 101(3-4): 313-325. ISSN: 0378-4320.
Online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.09.014
NAL Call Number: QP251.A5
Descriptors: lion, Panthera leo, endangered species, zoo animals, female reproductive system, estrous cycle, ovulation, hormone secretion, estradiol, progesterone, feces, normal values, hormonal regulation, human chorionic gonadotropin, mating behavior, vocalization , India.