Why The Lion Is Called the “King Of Beasts”?

The history of mankind is a witness to the consideration of the lion as a symbol of strength. We say “as strong as a lion” or “lion-hearted”. The lion was used on shields and crests and banners to indicate power, throughout the world.

The lions strike terror in man and beasts. For this reason, the lion was considered very powerful. Otherwise, probably, anybody could not prove that a lion could defeat all other animals in combat.

The ancient Egyptians considered the lion sacred. During the time Christ was born, the lions lived in many parts of Europe. By the year 500, all the lions had been killed. The lions are available in plenty in Africa and India.

The lion belongs to the cat family. The average length of a grown-up lion is 3 meters and they weigh between 175 kg to 225 kg. The males are larger than the females. The hunters can tell from the size of the track whether they are tracking a male or female. The front feet of a male is larger. The lion’s roar or growl. They do not purr like cats. It climbs rarely. Not like cats, it takes to deep waters. Lions normally graze on animals and live in open countries rather than in forests. They drink only once a day and as such live near to water source.

Lions hunt at night and rest by day. They may live singly or in pairs or groups of say, up to a dozen. They are known as “pride”. The zebras, antelopes, and gazelles are their main food supply. A lion may attack a giraffe but not an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus. When not hungry, the lion pays no heed to other animals.

A lion may lay hidden when hunting, in the wait of an animal to pass by. It may crawl and wiggle up to the victim and suddenly make a rush. The lion can rush at a speed of say, 60 km an hour.