The Persian lion, also known as the Asiatic lion, is a subspecies of lion that once roamed across the Middle East and parts of Asia. Today, they are primarily found in the Gir Forest National Park in India. These lions are slightly smaller than their African counterparts and have a distinctive fold of skin along their bellies. Persian lions are known for their unique manes, which are less developed than those of African lions. They typically live in small prides and are social animals. Their diet mainly consists of large herbivores, such as deer and wild boar, making them important predators in their ecosystem.