celestialchallenge: tuesday-animalkingdom

Today I want to dedicate this post to the lion, a cat with a lot of beauty, strong and dominant, a very beautiful feline and that today is in danger of extinction.

Psalm 34:10 The young lions are needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good.

Popularly known as the King of the Jungle, protagonist of stories and films, the Lion belongs to the great group of the family of the Felidae, is brother of tiger and in turn relative of the Ligre and the Tigón. It belongs to the Panthera genus, being one of the four species of this genus. It is carnivore and predatory by nature.

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This mammal is characterized in males by its large mane that makes them very particular, and because they are large animals, since a male lion can weigh up to 300 kilograms, thus being the largest alive felid after his relative the Tiger. It has very heavy limbs and a curious fact is that having large and strong jaws can kill prey of any size, since in addition, their fangs can measure up to 9 centimeters.

They are entirely carnivorous animals, that is, they base their diet on meat, and especially on large animals weighing up to 550 kilograms.

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To organize the hunt usually do it in groups, and the female for example, which only reaches a speed of about 95 kilometers per hour, must be close to the prey before jumping to it to catch it. In general, they approach up to about thirty meters and work together with other lionesses, so they attack the weaker prey that dies either by suffocation or by strangulation. However, some, the youngest, smallest and weakest can die only with a kick given by the lioness.

These animals usually live in wooded areas, and with many shrubs, but also in savannahs and grasslands.

They are generally found in areas of Asia, Africa, India and the East. But unfortunately it is in serious danger of extinction.

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The lion is a vulnerable species and, in its area of African distribution, over the past two decades has suffered a decline of populations, possibly irreversible, between 30% and 50%, 1 populations are not viable outside of bounded reserves and national parks. Although the cause of this decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the most important concerns. Lions have been held in captivity since the time of Ancient Rome and since the late eighteenth century have been a very sought after species and exhibited in zoos throughout the world. The zoos themselves are collaborating in breeding programs to protect the threatened Asian subspecies.

Centuries ago they were persecuted and hunted to obtain their skin as a symbol of power and status.

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The figure of the lion in the bible speaks of good or bad things. Depending on what it refers, it can be applied to our Savior or the enemy of our souls.
Here I show you 5 verses and what they refer to.

1 In Psalm 91:13
"On the lion and the cobra you will tread; you will tread on the lion cub and the serpent. "
Here it clearly speaks of the ability that God gives us to overcome the devil and our enemies stronger than us.

2 Revelation 5: 5
"Then one of the elders told me: Do not cry. Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won. To open the book and its seven stamps. " (1,2)
Here the lion in the bible tells us about our King of Kings, Jesus. The lion is the King of the jungle. It is about all the other animals. Just as Jesus Christ is above all power and authority.

3 1 Peter 5: 8
"Sober {of spirit}, be alert. Your adversary, the devil, walks like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. "
Here it clearly speaks as the enemy has the cunning and power of this animal. How he stalks us in silence, crouching to devour us. That's why we should be alert.

4 Isaiah 11: 6
"The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid. The calf, the young lion and the domestic animal will walk together, and a child will lead them. "
Here, the lion's ferocity is dominated under harmony in the kingdom of God. The aggression of this animal will not be feared in the coming Kingdom. It shows future peace.

5 Hebrews 11:33
"Those who by faith conquered kingdoms, did justice, obtained promises, closed mouths of lions."
Here the faithful servants who had faith are honored. Through this faith in God they achieved great triumphs and miracles such as closing the mouths of lions.