Table of Contents
Introduction
The jungle is an overgrown land covered in thick forest and tousled vegetation. Oftentimes, we refer to the jungle as a wild place where most, if not all wild animals live. It is a term that has been used for centuries, but today, we often refer to it as the wilds.
The jungle inhabits virtually every wild animal on the planet. However, just like a community, the jungle needs some sort of order for things to go smoothly. For the longest time, lions have been portrayed as the king of the jungle. This has been seen from the documentaries and films out there that aim to bring a connection between the wild and human beings.
Since we cannot go into the jungle to find out all about the way of life of these animals, we only rely on what the experts have to say on the matter. As it is extensively known that the lion to be the king of the jungle, we are here to provide you with reasons why the animal is held with so much regard.
Information about the Lion
Lions are mainly found in Africa, the southern part of the Sahara, and in the Northwest of India. They are widely given the name, the “King of the Jungle”, however, they don’t inhabit the jungle. In this case, the jungle refers to all the things wild. Lions inhabit the open savanna.
Unlike the jungle, the savanna is an environment that features trees that are broadly spaced to prevent the formation of a canopy. Since the canopy remains open, the area receives sufficient light that reaches the ground for various activities. This is the perfect habitat for lions and other animals living in the wild. These other animals include gazelles, zebras, antelopes, deer, and buffalos, among others.
Here in the savanna, the lions thrive by hunting down their prey, in this case, the mammals in the area. Lions are not limited to small animals only as they can even go for the big kills, including the giraffes, crocodiles, and buffalos, etc. The female lions called lionesses do the most hunting and often work together to scare their prey out of its hiding place.
A group of lions is called the pride, which is made up of 15 female lions and their cubs, and 3 male adult lions. On average, the lion stands at 6.5 feet long with their tails measuring approximately 26.75 inches long. Their heights can go up to 3.5 feet high, weighing about 500 pounds.
Why Lion is the King of the Jungle
As mentioned, every community needs to follow a certain order, which is implemented by a figure of authority. In this case, the lion assumes authority because of various reasons. For starters, lions do not fear other animals. This gives them a powerful sense of feeling that enables them to take charge in the jungles. The lion can take on any animal, regardless of its size. That’s a king move.
A king always has his rival. And in this particular case, the lion’s rival, or rather enemy, is the hyena. This rivalry is often involving food. A hyena will wait for the lion to kill its prey, and then approach it to take it as its own. More often than not, the lion wins and after eating to its fill, it leaves the rest for the hyenas. Humans are also other rivals of the lions as they sometimes poach the lions for their manes. However, the humans don’t live in the jungle, making them less significant compared to other animals.
A king is a leader who maintains the order of things around. This ensures proper balance in the environment. That is what lions do. By hunting and killing some of the animals in the wilds, the lions prevent the overpopulation of herbivores in the surrounding. Herbivorous feed on grass and other plantation in the savanna. What is more, they reproduce fast, which can overcrowd the surrounding, leading to depletion of grass and plantation resources. The reduction of grass and plantation in the savanna has negative impacts on the climate, often causing drought. So, the lions strive to maintain balance while preying on these animals.
The Qualities that make the Lion King
- Powerful
Lions are feared by most animals in the wild. This fear gives them control over the animals and the surrounding. Aside from the hyenas (who are not threatened by lions), their power is felt throughout the animal kingdom. Even humans fear the untamed lions as they cause deadly effects. One roar of a lion keeps all other animals on their toes, running for their dear life.
- Strength
As mentioned, lions can take on even bigger and riskier prey and defeat them in a bid to defend their territory and also feed. This is only possible with a being with so much strength and excellent attacking tactics. Lions portray unmatched strength in everything that they do. It is said that they sleep for 20 hours, reenergizing for the next day’s activities. And when they are awake, they are either resting or hunting down their prey.
- Cleverness
A lion doesn’t just attack without prior preparation. As mentioned, lions take long hours of rest to ensure when they are out hunting, they don’t lack the energy to go on. This is attributed to being smart. The lion uses clever tactics to take on heavier, taller, and larger animals, making him the king of the jungle.
- Boldness
A lion never fears. It walks or runs majestically, as a king would. What’s more, it knows when to fight other lions to keep its territory and remain dominant in the pride.
Conclusion
So many arguments have come up concerning what animal should be the king of the jungle. However, we look at some qualities that make one a leader and make a comparison across all the other animals in the said jungle. The lions top the list as their qualities supersede all the other animals. A better example is portrayed in the Lion King movie, where the lion is seen to display excellent leadership skills.