Scott Ferguson,, age 13, of Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada, for his question:
WHY IS THE LION NAMED KING OF THE JUNGLE?
Since the beginning of recorded history, the lion has been a symbol of strength, courage and nobility. His likeness is found on flags and family crests, and lion statues guard entrances to buildings throughout the world. Surely this maned monarch who walks with his head held high must be the King of Beasts. Maybe so, but don't tell the lioness she may have a few words of her own on the subject.
The lion has been known as the King of Beasts for quite some time. And whether you like lions or not, you must admit that he certainly looks the part. He has a large and powerful body, a very dignified and serious face, and, of course, his long and stately mane adds the final touch to his air of royalty. Frequently the lion is called the King of the Jungle. Actually lions do not live in jungles but in the grasslands and open country.
At one time many lions lived in Europe, southwestern Asia and throughout Africa. Today, however, only a few lions remain in Asia, and these live on a small game reserve in western India. In Africa the lion has been forced out of much of his domain and now is confined to the central and eastern parts of the continent.
Lions are the only cats that live in large family groups. This group is called a pride and may consist of as many as 30 individuals. All of the members of the pride, however, very seldom gather together at the same place at the same time. The adult males spend much of their time away from the pride guarding the outer boundaries of their territory. Pregnant females leave the group to have their young and return later.
An adult male lion eats a prodigious amount of meat, and recent studies of lions show that many of their meals are pilfered from hyena packs. King Leo apparently does not mind the least who sets his table as long as meat is on the menu. When the pride provides the meal, it is generally the females who do the hunting. While the king sits and roars, the queen fills the shopping cart. When dinner is served, King Leo is always first in line, followed by the lesser males, the females and, if any food is left over, the cubs.
After the dominant and lesser males have eaten, they generally stand guard so that the females and cubs can eat, protected from hyenas and other scavengers. While the lion keeps very busy eating, guarding the pride's territory and keeping peace at dinner time, his lordship manages to rest for about 21 hours each day.
As each year passes, the lion population decreases. Scientists are conducting many studies in attempts to ensure their survival in modern Africa. And the more that is learned about lion behavior, the more impressive is the role of the lioness.