Ever seen a lion climb a tree? Probably not, but a national park in Uganda is home to a unique population of tree-climbing lions.
Do Lions Climb?
If you’ve ever visited Turpentine Creek, you may have noticed that the lions here do not have a roof to their habitats like the jaguars and leopards do. You may have even asked if the lions are able to climb their trees and fences up and out of their habitats. The quick answer: Our lions will not climb their trees or fences to escape their habitats because they are unable to and it is an atypical behavior for a lion to climb. They remain safely in their habitats at all times.
Lions are not typically climbers, so our 12-foot high fences with a 3-foot jump guard are perfectly capable of keeping our animals and guests safe. Leopards and jaguars are anatomically built and much more capable of climbing. They will drag their hunted prey up into the trees. Lions and tigers do not exhibit this behavior. The front of a lion’s body is incredibly powerful, but they have very stiff backs, making them much less agile. This is why we don’t ever tend to see lions climbing trees. However, there is a surprising population of lions in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda that have learned to climb.
The Climbing Lions of Uganda
The only place in Uganda where tree climbing lions are found, is Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is an incredibly unusual lion behavior to find. It has become something of a culture of these lions. Here, lions can be seen lounging in the branches of trees during the day. Adult lions will teach their cubs to climb the fig tees, ensuring the next generation of climbing lions at the park.
Since it is such an unusual behavior for a lion, these populations have been studied. Why do they climb? One idea is that they are getting away from the flies and insects that tend to bite them. Another idea is that they are trying to escape the intense heat of the ground. The trees could also be a safe place to rest and scout for food. Ultimately, it’s not 100% certain why this population of lions climbs, but the research continues on.
Visit Turpentine Creek to learn about the lions who call TCWR home, and further your knowledge of typical lion behavior.
Sources:
https://www.natgeotv.com/za/shows/nationalgeographicwild/tree-climbing-lions
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/04/science/lions-trees.html
https://www.queenelizabethparkuganda.com/information/tree-climbing-lions/