Why do lions have large muscles?
Even though lions relax for an impressive 18-20 hours a day, they still have large strong muscles. This seems surprising, given that humans quickly weaken if we lie down 75% of the time. The explanation is primarily that lions are naturally equipped with much stronger muscles than humans, and these are maintained by the active portions of their lifestyle.
Lions are extremely active for the short period of time during which they do not sleep and relax. Male lions regularly patrol up to 20km to scare off other animals, and they roar to mark their territory. Their strong bodies require large quantities of energy, and the most efficient way to meet their daily energy requirement is to find and eat the largest prey available. Hunting large animals requires a highly energetic ‘workout’ – from identifying and chasing prey to the sprint, struggle and kill.
Another of a male lion’s most important tasks is to fight other males and chase them off their territory. The fights also contribute to keeping the animals in good condition. In contrast our human bodies have become adjusted to a very different lifestyle than that of lions. Any human desiring the “strength of a lion” is likely to require a great deal of non-lifestyle working out to achieve it.
20 km – is how far a lion can patrol during a day in order to mark his territory by roaring and making himself seen by other predators.