Why is the lion called the "king of the jungle" when it doesn't live in a jungle? Just wondered....

And why is the British Rugby team called the Lions?- there are no lions in the UK, either.

Because they are brave and handsome and proud and strong.(yeah!)

My wife says it is because they sleep 23 hours a day and let the women do all the work. Judging by some of the results she may be right

Male lions are considered "King of the jungle" (in this context "jungle" refers to where ALL the animals live...it is an age old adage), because of their manes. Their manes make them look majestic, and when they are sitting or laying down, they look regal.

Also, someone mentioned that they don't even do the hunting; this is true. The lionesses actually do the hunting, but even though the females bring home the kill, lion ettiquette demands that the males eat first. It is quite possible that humans saw this, and began calling the male lions "kings", which then lead to "king of the jungle".

Here is some more trivia for you. Male lions can hunt, but they are so bad at it, that without the females, the males would starve to death. Male lions are considered the "hyena killers" because they are the only mammal (besides men) that are capable of killing a hyena. Male lions actually scavenge more than hyenas, and they actually scavenge from hyenas.

The last paragraph above by Dakota reminded me instantly of a youtube video I watch from time to time. Found here.

I love that video! The music is beautiful and matches the scenes!

That video is actually cut from a two hour special from National Geographic Explorer. That special was the premise of a poem I wrote about hyenas (my lion poem came first).

Thanks for the link!

Further to my post, and picture in 'Photo a day' of Rocky, the magnificent male lion, I sometimes wonder if he would remember me as in the 'Androcles and the Lion' fable. When he was a small cub, I picked him up in an enclosure where there were six quite large juvenile tigers, and a couple of bigger lion cubs. Rocky, being the smallest, was being 'bullied' by them, and when I picked him up, a tiger stood up against me with its paws against my shoulder (quite an experience I can tell you) clearly wanting me to put Rocky down.
Animal instincts and memories I presume may cause them to remember situations which were unpleasant, and how they managed to escape from them, and perhaps Rocky may have a scent/sight/hearing memory of me from that day?
Unfortunately, it's not something I'll ever be able to find out, as no-one is allowed into the big cat cages nowadays!

Very nice memory Aramis! Rocky may remember too, who knows?
True, lions are savannah predators, and natural competitors of hyenas. They'll kill a hyena litter if they find one. For all its merits, 'Lion King' had its faults, bad PR for the impressive hyena. (classic demonization of the 'enemy') .. They're competitors because they're both just about as good at what they do.. hyenas may be marginally superior.
Lions are indeed magnificant though, I agree, especially with the mane though not all male lions have manes ( Shadow and Darkness and their ilk). Some Asian lions do live in forests btw.
<< (inhabitant of Judah/Yehuda, lion symbol still in use.. they used to roam these here hills centuries ago)

Lions are cool unless they eat you. They are the king of the jungle because they will stand up for themself and not as shy as a baby elephant. They are known as very loyal and brave beasts which makes them somethings feared of.

I would not say elephants (even baby ones) are shy. On all my trips into the bush I have been charged by an elephant three times. To date I have not had any close encounters with a lion. Elephants are far more unpredictable than lions but I think we may be getting off the track of this thread now.

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Lions are cool unless they eat you. They are the king of the jungle because they will stand up for themself and not as shy as a baby elephant. They are known as very loyal and brave beasts which makes them somethings feared of.

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It's obvious you don't know anything about lions.

1.) Not all lions are maneaters. Some lions resort to maneating because of an injury or old age. While some lions are maneaters because that is the kind of food they were weaned on (with the mother and father being maneaters). Also, lionesses will attack when it comes to defending their babies. Lions also have a facination with a running figure. If you run away from a lion, you will be attacked. And, all lions have a facination with children; if you look like a child and sound like a child, a lion will think you are fair game and go after you.

2.) Lions are not shy, they are gregarious animals. Basically all animals that live in a pack, pride, pod, group, etc., etc., are social animals, and this includes lions and elephants.

3.) As for being loyal and brave, well let's see. A new male lion overtaking a pride will kill all the young ones to make the lionesses come into heat so they could bear his babies. Yes, lions and lionesses are brave, but male lions also scavenge and most times the male lions scavenge from hyenas.

4.) A pride of lions can take down a water buffalo, a giraffe, and almost anything else except elephants.

So before you post about something such as lions, it would be a pretty good idea if you actually read about them, so you know what you are posting about.