Sri Lanka

What is the National Animal of Sri Lanka?

National animal of Sri Lanka

Lion – Sri Lanka national animal

The lion is the national animal of Sri Lanka. The lion represents power, nobility, courage, strength and pride. They have been an important part of Sri Lanka’s culture and history. The lion is a strong animal and it is the king of all the jungle animals. It is one of the most recognized animals in the world. It is one of the largest members of the cat family, second only to the tiger.

The Sri Lankan animal lion is a mythical beast that has been used in the national flag of Sri Lanka since independence in 1948. It symbolizes the bravery and courage of its people.

Scientific Classification of Lion

Scientific Name Kingdom Class Order Family
Panthera leo Animalia Mammalia Carnivora Felidae
Population Size Life Span Weight Height Length
20,000 20 YRS 190 KG 90 – 110 cm 45-55 CM

Physical Description

The lion is the only member of the genus Panthera and a member of the family Felidae. A pride usually consists of five or six related females and their cubs

The lion is similar in many ways to the other members of the cat family. It has strong muscles that allow it to leap into the air, and keen eyesight, hearing, smell and sense of touch. The lion has a skull that is large and heavy with powerful jaws with long canine teeth. Its neck is thick and muscular, providing support for its head when roaring or fighting.

10 Facts about Lion

  1. Lion is the official national symbol and animal of Sri Lanka country.
  2. The King of the Jungle: Lions are majestic and powerful animals. They are also known as the king of the jungle because of their huge manes.
  3. Lions are carnivores, which means they eat meat. Lions eat almost any kind of animal they can catch, including zebras, antelope and wildebeest. They also eat rodents and reptiles.
  4. Lions have been known to run at speeds up to 81 kph (50 mph).
  5. The lion is the second largest cat in the world (after the tiger).
  6. Weight: Male lions weigh between 300 and 400 pounds (136 to 181 kilograms). Females are much smaller and weigh between 150 and 250 pounds.
  7. The average lifespan of a captive Lion is 17 years, while in the wild it is 12 years.
  8. A lion’s roar can be heard from five miles away.
  9. Lions can run up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) over short distances and 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour) over longer distances. Their top speed is about 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour).
  10. Lions are extremely fast when chasing prey. They can run at speeds up to 81 kph (50 mph) for short distances.

Why is Lion the national animal of Sri Lanka?

There are few reasons to choose Lion as the national animal and emblem of the Sri Lank country which are:

The lion was chosen as the Sri Lanka’s national animal because it represents bravery, strength, intelligence as well as being a symbol of pride which are qualities that Sri Lankans like to associate themselves with when they think about their country’s future.

Lions are native to Sri Lanka and are found in many parts of the country including Yala National Park, Minneriya National Park and Wilpattu.

The choice of the lion as a national symbol of Sri Lanka is not new, but has been a long tradition in Sri Lanka. The lion was adopted by many nations as their symbol, including Ethiopia, Netherlands and Singapore. So, due to all these facts the Lion officially declared the native animal of Sri Lanka.