So I generally prefer science to pseudoscience. But.
I’m a sucker for astrology, you guys. Big time.
It’s probably because I’m a Leo. And not just any Leo. I am basically the most Leo-y of all Leos. Although I’m pretty sure that every Leo says that. We do like to think of ourselves as the kings and queens of the jungle, after all. Rawr.
But here’s the thing. Real lions—while strong and fierce creatures (like us Leos! Ha!)—are not actually jungle-dwelling. Nope. Most lions live in the wide open savannah or grasslands of Africa. There is currently only one very small population that lives in the “jungle.” You can find these Asiatic lions in India’s Gir Forest.
Now, I just learned that the word “jungle” may have originated from ancient India. It is derived from a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to “uncultivated or uninhabited land.” And this word eventually came to be understood by us today as a thick, tropical forest. Still, not where most lions live. However, if you think about the word “jungle” in terms of its original meaning, it would be somewhat fair to say then that lions are the kings of their uncultivated or uninhabited lands—whether it’s deep in a lush Indian forest or out on the open African savannah.
Yet, sadly, much of this land is hardly uncultivated or uninhabited anymore. And lions are not really reigning over their domains in the same way they once were. Human action has taken its toll on these big cats and their homes.
There is still time to save them, though. Lots of good people out there are doing good work to keep lions and their habitats safe. Take, for example, National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative. Check it out.
I mean, what better time to learn more about lions—and how to save them—during Leo season?