The Silence of the Lions!

 

There should absolutely be no doubt that our intention here is not to discuss or re-review the all-time epic movie ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991). However, we still hope to derive some brownie points from the movie title about our proposed speculation on the phenomena of the silences of any kind—wholly related to the animal world. Now, this ‘silence’ of the ‘lambs’ is very clear in its obvious manifestation of a paralyzing terrifyingly petrifying fear of the profoundest kind, because the lambs are basically defenseless animals having no effective systems to ward off the free-flowing predators. They have no other option but to remain silent which is not so often of the discreet or non-discreet variety, because, again, they have no other practical choice. Unless, of course, should some marauding defenders appear in great numbers to fight for the rights of the lambs.  

As our fully intended title suggests, it’s about the silence of any other species of animals except for those similar to the lambs, that is to say, differentiating the herbivorous from the predatory carnivorous ones. While it’s very natural, as we’ve already discussed, for the herbivores to maintain a dazed silence very often in their daily existence it’s intriguing as to why the carnivores should consider observing silence at all. And that too, of the mighty lions—the uncrowned king of the animals. Since we’d already committed ourselves to having our speculation on this there’s no escape route immediately available for us.

So then, let’s consider as to why the mighty lions could suddenly fall silent, if ever at all. Some basic reasons do come to our speculative mind or should we say intellect: that the species of the lions might have perceived some weird notion of losing their majority in the jungles; that they’ve become increasingly aware of the tremendous growth and development of an unknown species; that, more or less as a consequence of the previous two, their hard-earned title as ‘The King of the Animals’ has been coming under a palpable threat; and that, despite their constant vigil, the canny species of the jackals, the wolves and also the somewhat nonchalant hyenas have been able to accommodate themselves with more and more meat bones and thus looking ominously empowered to corner them.

But we can easily give a counter to each of the possible reasons: even if they lose majority which is as impossible as a day collapsing into a night at noontime they’d still be able to command the animal world thanks to their time-tested might. Yes of course, new species do come up while old species wane; however, the mighty lions have not, of late, shown any decline in their claw-punch power and as their illustrious existential history amply demonstrates they’re immensely capable of getting any perceptible or real threat nipped in the bud. Combined with these two strengths the title threat can be easily overlooked. And, of course, the lions should hardly be bothered about what the lesser ones do all the time; at best, the mischievous jackals or wolves or hyenas would only to able to give a bad name to the jungle kingdom, maybe one more time.

How is it even possible to imagine the lions would growl no more? The reverberating rich baritone, the majestic and the supremely beautiful arrogant growls that constantly mystify the jungle and that echo through the days and nights, unceasingly! About to go into oblivion? No, absolutely not! Our speculation is baseless and is utterly bereft of any semblance of a reason! And just for the record: the prowling predators of any kind or species do always observe the customary moments of a strategic silence before they launch themselves overpoweringly on their prey!