If you’ve ever read the picture book, The Lion Inside, by Rachel Bright and Jim Field, you’ll already know some things about lions. You’ll know, for example, that they have a really loud roar and that they are super strong. But do you know exactly how loud their roar is, and just how strong they are? Here are some fascinating facts about lions.

Lions are one of the loudest animals

A lion’s roar reaches up to 114 decibels - louder than a chainsaw. It can be heard up to 5 miles (8km) away.

Lions can move up to five times their own weight

Lions are up to seven times stronger than humans and have the ability to drag prey that is around four to five times their own bodyweight. That means they can shift a carcass that weighs between 1-1.8 tonnes.

Lions are born spotty

Lions are instantly recognisable for their golden brown coats, but they’re born with spots. It’s thought that this helps to keep them camouflaged. As they grow, the spots fade.

Lions are the only cats that roar together

Most big cats are solitary, preferring to live alone, but lions live in family groups called prides. They roar together to communicate and protect their territory - and even the cubs join in!

Lions sleep up to 21 hours per day

Lions need plenty of energy to hunt, and plenty of rest to digest their food. That means they do a lot of sleeping - up to 21 hours every day.

Some lions don’t have manes

Many male lions are recognisable by their majestic manes, but in parts of Kenya, the males are maneless. It’s thought to be an adaptation to the hot, dry, thorny environment where they live.

Ugandan lions climb trees

Lions in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park are known to be excellent tree climbers. It’s believed that hiding in the foliage helps to protect them from the fierce heat during the day.

Lions only eat twice a week

Lions rarely eat on a daily basis. Instead, they tend to hunt around twice a week, eating 40-50kg of meat in a single meal and then allowing it to digest over the next few days.

Lions see six times better in the dark than humans

A lion’s vision is six times more sensitive to light than a human's, meaning they are much better at seeing in the dark. This is what makes them such great night-time hunters.

Lions do sometimes eat mice

The mouse in The Lion Inside book is right to worry that the lion might eat him. Lions do sometimes eat mice, although usually they hunt large mammals like zebras and wildebeest. Catching a mouse uses more energy than the food provides, so more often than not lions will eat larger prey.

Experience The Lion Inside

If you’re a fan of the book by Rachel Bright, The Lion Inside, don’t miss the chance to see the stage show. Perfect for kids aged three and up, this family-friendly theatre production retells the story with puppetry, singing and dancing. Book your tickets today.