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Ten Things We’ve Learned About Lions Since Disney’s Original ‘The Lion King’

Ten Things We’ve Learned About Lions Since Disney’s Original ‘The Lion King’

Since the animated movie came out 25 years ago, zoologists have expanded our understanding of these fierce carnivores

Step aside, Mufasa. In the real world, females run the pride. (Disney)
smithsonian.com

In 1994, Disney’s The Lion King opened our eyes to the social networks of the animal kingdom—with a little Shakespearean twist. While the anthropomorphized cartoons took quite a few liberties (like the song-and-dance numbers), Disney did try to maintain some level of realism by hiring a wildlife expert to bring real lions into the studio, helping the animation team convey lifelike movements.

Twenty-five years after the release of Disney’s classic animated movie, the story returned to the big screen in a remake released July 18. In that time, zoologists have learned significantly more about the behavior and biology of the kings of the savanna…