Discover the Top 5 Reasons Lions Are Considered the King of the Jungle

Lions are big, burly wildcats that are not a force to be reckoned with. In many folklore and symbolism, lions are seen as majestic, strong, and brave. Read this article to discover the top five reasons lions are considered the king of the jungle.

So what is it about these massive cats that make them crowned the king?

What Are Lions?

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large, powerful wildcat. In many cultures is a leader who is to be looked up to. Male lions are “lions,” and female lions are “lionesses.” Their offspring are “cubs.”

Lions can grow to be lengths of 10 feet long and weigh 330 to 550 pounds. 

Lionesses can grow to be 9 feet in length and weigh about 265 to 330 pounds.

How Many Species of Lions Are There?

There are two subspecies of the Lion. The first is the African Lion (Panthera leo leo). The second is the Asiatic Lion (Pantera leo persica).

The African Lion

The African lion is one of the most susceptible endangered species on the planet. 

It is said that there are only 20,000 or fewer African lions left in the world due to poaching and construction destroying their home. 

The African lion can be identified by their orange color compared to the Asiatic lion, which has more of a golden due to its mane.

You’ll find the African lion depicted on many business logos and as mascots for many businesses because of the lion’s connection to strength, leadership, and fierce power.

The African lion in only one country of Sub-Saharan Africa. The African lion was in 27 countries altogether. As the lives of lions were lost, their existence in other countries dwindled.

The Asiatic Lion

The subspecies of the Asiatic lion reside in the Gir Forest National Park located in Gujarat, India.

The Asiatic Lion has 400 or less lions left. The Gir Forest State Park aims to protect the remaining members.

What Do Lions Eat?

Lions are mainly carnivores. They feast on other animals that weigh anywhere from 100 to 1000 pounds, which gives them quite the variety when it comes to the menu. However, as times have changed, they can also eat smaller animals, such as reptiles and rodents. They taking food from predators such as hyenas and leopards.

5 Interesting Facts About Lions

1. Lions Are Born With Spots

When lion cubs are born, they have little spots. As they age, the spots disappear.

2. Lion’s Manes Are NOT Just For Looks…They Protect Them Too!

The gorgeous mane that all male lions have are not just for looks. Their mane also helps to protect their head and neck in fights as well. Did you also know their mane grows to be 16 cm long?

3. You Can Tell a Lion’s Age By Their Mane

Want to know how old a male lion is? Look at their mane! The darker their mane is, the older they are.

4. Lion Cubs Are Raised Together

In a group of lions, also known as a pride. In a pride, there is a small group of lions who protect the pride. The lioness raise their cubs together, which allows them to drink any of the female’s milk. As long as mama lion permits it, of course.

5. Lions Hydrate From Plants and Other Animals

Lions are amazing at adapting to any environment they live in. In areas such as desert landscapes, they can drink water from plants or prey to stay hydrated.

Why Are Lions Considered King of the Jungle and Not Tigers?

You may be shocked to discover that as large as the lion is, they are not the largest jungle cat. The tiger is larger than the lion. So why are lions considered the king of the jungle if the tiger is the largest cat in the wild?

Tigers easily outweigh a lion by at least 300 pounds. Most lions grow to weigh 550 lbs by the time they reach adulthood.

If you put a lion and a tiger in a boxing match together, one might say the tiger would win. 

However, the lion would have the tiger outbeat by their social factor alone. Lions hunt in groups, also referred to as pride.

Tigers, on the other hand, do not have a family structure when it comes to hunting. They often hunt in solitude, which unfortunately makes them an easy target if a poacher decides to step in.

Do Lions Live in Jungles?

Surprisingly, a lion does not reside in a jungle. Lions reside in savannah and grassland rather than jungles. The term king of the jungle is more of a fictional term than it is a biologically correct one.

Lions live in countries such as India and Africa. However, you can occasionally find them in Asia as well.

Top 5 Reasons Lions Are Considered King of the Jungle

1. They Are Powerful Beings

Lions are no doubt powerful creatures. Lions have a sturdy structural build with powerful legs. They can run at speeds of 50 mph when they are chasing prey. 

Not to mention, they have a shocking bite force of 650 psi. Their jaws can lift as much as 2,000 pounds, which is quite impressive for an animal who doesn’t lift weights. 

The incredible strength of a lion is one of the top 5 reasons they are the kings of the jungle.

2. They Have Awe-Inspiring Courage

Lions fear nothing or no none! They are resilient enough to take nearly any animal they choose in their environment.

Coupled with hunting in large prides, that is quite the dose of fearlessness to go up against.

Did we mention that the lionesses make up a good percentage of each pride and are the ones who bring home the meat?

Even with that knowledge, lions fear nothing. Even if someone knows they send their females to do the bidding.

3. They Are Limitless Leaders

If you want to run a business, take notes on how a lion leads. 

They live in a highly structured pride. These prides can have as many as 30 individual lions and lionesses with them.

Their ability to work well with others gives them pride and power that other groups of prey animals may not have.

The male lion’s job is to keep the pride safe and in order. The lioness’s job is to hunt. It’s no wonder these African beasts can lead so well. 

4. The Power of a Roar

You cannot miss the loud and powerful roar of a lion. That is partly why they are named King of the Jungle. 

What’s behind the power of a lion’s roar? The throat of a lion contains a diverse larynx and hyoid apparatus. These allow the roar to be louder than sounds compared to other prey animals.

5. Lions Are the Most Feared Animal

Lions are what are called apex predators. That means that they are not prey to any other animal. 

The only exceptions to this are hyenas, which hunt in packs of 20, and humans, who poach lions for their fur and teeth.

These top 5 reasons are why lions are considered king of the jungle. They are stealthy, have a brute bite force, and are not ones to be messed with due to their large pride.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jrossphoto/Shutterstock.com