The lion is a true symbol of leadership and power. This member of the big cat family earned their spot at the top of their food chain, where they wear their apex predator crown proudly. But wouldn’t King of the pridelands be more appropriate? And why didn’t an animal that actually calls the jungle their home get the title?
Stick with me as we dig a little deeper into the facts behind why we’ve been calling the lion king of the jungle for centuries.
Where Did ‘King of the Jungle’ Come From?
I don’t know about you, but I can’t even recall the first time I heard the phrase ‘the lion is the king of the jungle.’ It has become as common as rain, but it had to come from somewhere, right?
The first observance of the phrase was early in the 20th century. This is when European explorers and hunters were still very into inspecting the far away land. They would board ships on their exhibitions to this strange place known as Africa, ready to take on the world. Then, they would return with wonderful stories about the ‘king of beasts. Remember, they didn’t have lions roaming around on their continent.
This all makes sense, but it doesn’t exactly tell us how the lion suddenly changed from king of beasts to king of the jungle. You may be disappointed to learn that the reasoning behind the label change is still rather unclear. Some believe it could be the result of ignorance and simple lack of knowledge. Back in the day, it was a common belief that Africa was mostly jungle. It’s possible that the phrase simply changed as more people started using it.
The Real Meaning of the Word ‘Jungle’
It just so happens that there may be another reason for the lion’s identification tag. Today, the word jungle describes an overgrown area of land with dense vegetation, right? It turns out that the word had a completely different meaning before.
Did you know that the word jungle comes from Jāṅgala? That’s a Sanskrit/Hindi word that means rough and arid or an uninhabited land area. It wasn’t until the 18th century that this word started getting an entirely new definition. The modern connotation sprouted from a combination of an Anglo-Indian interpretation and the Hindustani word for forest, which is Jangal.
So, if you take the original meaning into account, the saying is more appropriate than we initially thought. If you live in India, you may still use the word to describe open land. Don’t you agree with me when I say that the lion does indeed live in some form of a jungle?
Lions Have a Royal Attitude
Lions are members of the big cat family. We all know that cats have pretty superior attitudes – from the unbothered yawn to their exhausting confidence. You can’t help but notice the almost tangible aura of royalty. Their entire demeanor screams I am a king.
Lions can sleep for up to 21 hours daily. That’s 88% of their day in dreamland! What’s more kinglike than that? Not to mention the fact that females are responsible for hunting at night and raising cubs during the day. And what do the males do, you may ask? They just lie around and snooze the day away like royalty. I guess that’s why we don’t call the lion the queen of the jungle.
Lions Look Pretty Kinglike
Apart from their holier-than-thou attitudes, lions also sport a royal look. You’ll realize this when you look deep into their eyes. There should be a moment of ‘wow, I can see why…’ before you start running for your life.
Despite being only the 2nd biggest big cat, they’re pretty large in size. Lions can get up to 4 feet tall in shoulder height and 10 feet long. This doesn’t include their tails, which can reach a staggering 3 feet.
Males typically weigh between 330 and 550 lbs. Females are slightly smaller with their average weight sitting somewhere between 265 and 395 lbs. This is all pretty impressive, but would you believe me when I say it gets even more remarkable? Somewhere in the world, there are bigger and more intimidating lions walking around. That’s right, the Okavango Delta is home to even bigger lions, known as super lions.
If you add the lion’s gorgeous mane to the size and look equation, you have the perfect formula for a kingly stud.
Lions Don’t Have Anything to Fear
As I said before, lions are apex predators. They are right at the top of their food chain, where no other animal sees them as prey. They walk around knowing that all of the other animals in their habitat respect them.
Lions can have their choice of meal every night. They’ll feast on any animal from 100 to 1000 lbs., depending on what’s on the menu. Did you notice that that’s almost twice their maximum weight?!
A Lion’s Roar Is Very Intimidating
The lion’s roar just adds to its monarchal personality, don’t you think? Their roars, which you can hear up to 5 miles away, can reach up to 114 decibels. That’s jackhammer or chainsaw loud!
Lions have flat square-shaped vocal folds, as opposed to the triangular folds that other (quieter) animals have. Thus, when they push air through their larynx, there is more space for vibration. So, they don’t have to put a lot of pressure on their lungs to release a deafening sound. This should tell you why these big cats look so unbothered when they roar.
Lions Are Used as Symbols of Power and Leadership
Lions play a part in many cultures, mythologies, and even religions. Take Sekhmet, the ancient Egyptian Goddess, for one. You may have heard of her before – or maybe you saw an ancient carving of her in the history books. She had a feminine human-like body with the head of a lioness.
Lions are also commonly used as symbols in heraldry. The lion symbolizes courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour. You’ll notice them on many coats of arms and flags – some from as early as the 12th century.
The lion is also a prevalent symbol in religion – especially Christianity. The first time we read about the lion, or the Lion of Judah, is in the book of Genesis. The Bible paints a picture of the lion as a symbol of strength and leadership. You may come across examples of this in scriptures like Proverbs 30:30: “A lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing.”
Lions Play an Important Part in Their Ecosystems
Last on our list of things that make lions deserving of their title is the part they play in nature. While you may find the image of a lion taking down a zebra or gazelle sad, it’s all part of the circle of life.
If lions didn’t play their part, herbivore populations would be entirely out of control. Their grassy habitats would become deserts because of overgrazing, and thousands of animal species would become extinct. So, you see, lions are always taking care of their habitats and the animals in their ecosystems – just like the kings they are.
