You’ve got everyone ready, plane tickets and safety rules in check. But how about your knowledge about the royalty of the animal kingdom?
You might have a chance to see the lion in action, hunting for food in the land. But how about the water? Can lions swim?
Let’s find out!
Can lions swim?
Yes, lions can swim. Although they can swim, they favor land over water.
These terrestrial animals do not cope so well in water and the main reason they go into the water is to swim over to the other side of the land or just to cool off.
To cool off and relax its muscles are the foremost reason a lion goes in water.
During the hot season, lions suffer a lot to maintain their body temperature. Hence, they spend hours in water to hydrate themselves.
Another reason they go into the water is to catch their prey. Young elephants, wild hogs, buffalos and zebras are just some of their favorites. Lions will do everything they can to catch their prey even if it means going into the water.
Reaching the other part of the land is another reason why lions force themselves to swim in the water.
Are lions good swimmers?
Lions are not as good swimmers compared to other big cats like tigers and jaguars. They don’t swim pretty often, that is they are not proficient swimmers. Jaguars and tigers, on the other hand, enjoy the water and they swim regularly to hunt aquatic animals.
How fast do lions swim?
Lions are not fast swimmers. They swim carefully to avoid drowning. When they swim in the water, lions’ fur gets wet and wet coats slow them more.
Lions swim using their four limbs and maintain their head above the water. They move their limbs in the forward direction while the upper limbs move at the same time and vice versa for the back limbs.
Do lions like water?
As mentioned above, lions prefer land over water because they find it challenging to swim in deep water. However, during hot days, they stay in the water to cool off their body temperature.
It is also worth noting that although lions elude water, they tend to settle near the water because the water supply is essential for their survival.
Can lions swim in deep water?
Lions prefer waters not deeper than three feet. As mentioned above, they are not good swimmers and if they try to swim into the deep water, their lungs could possibly be filled with water, which could lead to death.
Lions are pretty well aware of their territory and would pretty much choose land over water.
Why do lions live in groups?
Aside from improving the strength of their territories, lions live in groups to protect the pride and their young ones. In addition, living in groups allows them to have larger and easier kills during food hunting. Moreover, it can reduce any form of injuries while hunting since they have each other’s back to protect.