| The lion is simply a large wild cat. The scientific lion | | | | and their families cared for this animal and it grew to |
| name is a Panthera Leo. These animals are native to | | | | be their pet until it grew too large for them to keep. |
| the Africa, more specifically the Sahara Desert. Lions | | | | Christian was later sent back to Kenya where he |
| are one of the few big cats that are somewhat | | | | was rehabilitated back in the wild at the Kora National |
| social. There are number of different species of lions | | | | Reserve. A movie was filmed about the journey that |
| but all fall into the same family of Panthera Leo. | | | | Christian took from England to Kenya. |
| There are very few people who have lions as pets, | | | | A popular lion name amongst movie people is Leo the |
| but even in zoos, the keepers have special lion | | | | Lion. Leo is the mascot or MGM studios in Hollywood. |
| names that they like to use. | | | | Leo is featured on the film company's production |
| Naming lions and groups of lions is an important task | | | | logo. There have been five different lions used as the |
| in science. The fact that a group of animals has a | | | | logo for the company since 1924. Leo was the fifth |
| family name is similar to how humans have family | | | | lion to be used. Leo was used on all films that were |
| names. The purpose of this is to track evolution and | | | | filmed between the years of 1957 to 1983 as well as |
| genetics and to distinguish one from the other. For | | | | on the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Leo was taken |
| example, if lions had never been classified as a | | | | out in three films and he was dubbed by a still frame |
| specific family of large cats, people might assume | | | | lion and there was no roar at the beginning of the |
| that tigers are part of the same group. There may | | | | film, this was not a huge success. |
| be some connection between the groups but the | | | | While most of the lions used in productions were |
| scientific name sets all groups of animals apart. | | | | male there are some lionesses that cannot be |
| Every animal at the zoo has a name and there are | | | | forgotten. One such lioness is Mara. Mara was best |
| really popular or famous zoo lions around the world. | | | | known for her role in the movie Born Free in 1966. |
| One such lion is Marjon. Marjon can be found at the | | | | Mara was born in 1965 and was abandoned by her |
| Kabul Zoo. Marjon was born in 1976 and he was | | | | mother. Irene Grindley took it upon herself to care |
| given to the Kabul Zoo shortly after his birth. He was | | | | for the cub. It was first thought that Mara would |
| not alone in the zoo; he was joined by a lioness | | | | stay with Irene for just a few days but she soon |
| named Chucha. | | | | became a permanent fixture. She was hand reared |
| Another famous lion is a lion by the name of | | | | and fully domesticated. As she grew larger Irene |
| Christian. Christian was purchased by two Australian | | | | became aware of the fact that Mara had to be |
| men who were living in London in 1969. The lion was | | | | relocated. Mara went to the Animal Orphanage at the |
| purchased from Harrods department store. Both men | | | | entrance to the Nairobi National Park. |