Blocky King of Beasts

About this drawing

A Minecraft lion is a fan-made animal, because the game's savanna has no lions. Horses, donkeys, llamas and armadillos graze under the acacia trees instead, so players often build golden lions to complete the scene.

Wild lions live on the savannas and grasslands of Africa, with one small population left in a forest in India. They are the only big cats that live in groups, called prides, made up of related females, their cubs and one or a few adult males.

Lionesses do most of the hunting, often teaming up to surround zebras, wildebeest or antelope. Males, with their big manes, guard the territory and announce themselves with booming roars.

Lions spend a lot of the day resting in the shade to save energy for the hunt. Their impressive mane, proud stance and reputation as king of the beasts make them a perfect subject to draw, even in Minecraft's blocky style. Sadly, lion numbers have dropped a lot over the last century as their habitat shrinks, so many parks and reserves in Africa work to protect them. Drawings like this one can be a fun way to start learning about these big cats and why they matter.

• minecraft
• lion
• savanna
• wild animals
• video games