Argo, for your son you might consider a .45 modified to shoot .460 Rowland, a simple conversion on a 1911 https://clarkcustomguns.com/product/460-rowland-conversion-kit-for-1911/ or Glock 21 https://www.460rowland.com/

It is the ballistic equivalent of a light .44 Magnum: 230 gr at 1350 fps, or 255 gr at 1300 fps. When working around lions, I carry a high capacity Paraordnance, which holds 14 in the standard magazine or 17 with an extended basepad. Not nearly what you want for a big angry carnivore but a lot better than a 9mm or .45, or a long gun back in the truck.