African lion, Panthera leo krugeri. During copulation the male can really bite the female’s neck. Maasai, Masai, Mara National Park, Kenya, East Africa. (Featured in African Beauty.) The males of the pride fight over the lioness which has come into eostrous. The couple then hunt together and eat. They then mate. Copulation occurs approximately every 40 minutes for 4 to 7 days, and lasts only for a couple of minutes each time. Afterwards there is a short rest period. During this period they only stop to get a drink. If fertilization has not occurred after 4-7 days, they hunt together, eat and then start all over again. Lions are now endangered. About 30 years ago there were about 400,000 across Africa, now the population is estimated to be about 20,000 and decreasing.