Narok was just a small cub at the time he was rescued from an illegal Idaho game farm. He was among the 27 lions and ligers whom the Wildlife Waystation rescued in 1995 from severe abuse and neglect at the Idaho facility.

Today, Narok enjoys large doses of loving care by a team of dedicated Waystation staff and volunteers.

Aside from eating 10 pounds of meat a day, Narok’s favorite activities are people watching, grooming the lionesses in his pride, and indulging in long cat naps.

Narok the African Lion

The lion, or Panthera leo, is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as portions of Northwest India. Formerly, lions had been widespread throughout Asia. Open savannas are the lion’s primary habitat. Body color varies from tawny-yellow to reddish-brown.

African lions live in groups called prides, which consist of up to three adult males and up to 15 females and their young. Small groups consisting only of young males may also live together. Breeding occurs at anytime of year. Usually litters consist of one to six cubs. Upon reaching adulthood, an African lion weighs between 300 and 500 pounds. Its powerful body can reach ten feet in length.

The term “lazy as a lion” comes from the fact that lions spend 20 or more hours each day sleeping. All of this rest is vital for them to conserve their energy for purposes of hunting and defending their pride. Normally, lions hunt during daylight; however, in areas where they are threatened, they tend to hunt only at night. They prey on a variety of animals including gazelle, antelope and zebra, and sometimes larger animals such as water buffalo.