1. Even though the lion is sometimes referred to as the “king of the jungle,” it actually only lives in grasslands and plains. The expression may have come from an incorrect association between Africa and jungles or may refer to a less literal meaning of the word jungle.
2. A lion may sleep up to 20 hours a day.
3. A lion can run for short distances at 50 mph and leap as far as 36 feet.
4. A lion’s roar can be heard from as far as 5 miles away.
5. The lion was once found throughout Africa, Asia and Europe but now exists only in Africa with one exception. The last remaining Asiatic lions are found in Sasan-Gir National Park in India, which was primarily created to protect the species. Currently, there are approximately 350-400 lions in the park.
6. Male lions defend the pride’s territory while females do most of the hunting. Despite this, the males eat first.