The Book of Lions

The scientific name and classification of the lion is “Panthera Leo”. The name was introduced by German Lorenz Oken about 200 years ago. Today they exist primarily in parts of Africa, with the greatest concentration in Kenya and Tanzania. The genus classification “Panthera” includes the other large members of the jungle cats, such as the leopards, tigers and jaguars. Their common ties and divergent development originated back as far as three million years into the ancient past. This was determined by scientific findings that attempted to trace their common ancestry groups. Lions were once more common throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa, and even in North America. They were depicted in cave art dating back almost 19,000 years. There are ancient hunting scenes of humans, armed with raised spears, pursuing the great animals thousands of years ago. At Olduvai Gorge, made famous by the husband and wife research team of Mary and Louis Leakey, some of the finest example of lion fossils were unearthed. These fossils, unearthed in the region of Tanzania, date back about 1.5 million years. The lions, with their royal stride, striking manes and powerful bodies, have come to be symbols for strength. Often called the “King of the Jungle” has been used on national flags and royal crests to symbolize the power and might of the world’s greatest civilizations. Of all the types of jungle cats, the lions are the second largest, after the tiger.