The roar of the king of the jungle is one of the scariest sounds you will hear in the wild.
If you happen to be wandering the African savannah and hear the roar of a lion, you might be tempted to turn in the opposite direction.
But watching a lion cub practice its roar next to its mother is one of the loveliest sights you can see.
A tourist was lucky enough to see and capture the thrilling event on video. The little cab can be seen moving around, making a slight roar, as if warning those listening to watch out for their next king.
What is even more gratifying is that its little roar sounds like a house cat, but the little lion did not give up practice, perhaps hoping to hit the right note and make other animals run away.
Why does the lion roar?
The purpose of a lion’s roar is not just to show off. Yes, showing off is important in the world of lions because it helps males stand out and attract the attention of females.
A lion may roar to communicate its location to its proud members, to show off its strength, or to scare other lions away from its territory. The King of the Jungle may sometimes roar to warn its proud members of impending danger.
While lion roars are primarily associated with male lions, it is interesting to note that both lionesses and males roar. A lion’s roar can go up to 114 decibels, which is why you can hear it from five miles away.
How do lions roar so loudly?
The mechanics of a lion’s roar depend on one organ: its throat. It is also known as its voice box.
In general, all animals make sounds as the air in their lungs passes through the vocal cords in their vocal cords. Moving air vibrates these folds, creating sound pulses.
The precise volume and character of the sound produced depends on air pressure and the muscles of the throat. These muscles control the precise tension and length of the vocal cords.
A lion’s roar is noticeably louder due to the shape of the vocal cords. Human vocal cords are triangular, while those of ions and other big cats are square. Fatty deposits within the vocal ligaments help to flatten the vocal cords, giving them a square shape.
The square shape of these folds allows the lion to stabilize its vocal cords so that they respond better to the passing air. This stability allows the King of the Jungle to let out a loud roar without putting undue pressure on its lungs.
The vocal cords of the lion cub in the video are clearly underdeveloped. When it finally happens, when it roars, you don’t want to be near it because it’s going to be as scary as it can get.
Next:
- Watch lions hunt the biggest antelope you’ve ever seen
- These lions are too busy arguing so their dinner gets up and walks away
- Watch two male lions play hide and seek over dinner
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
