Trickster tale

Lions are the only cats in the animal kingdom with a mane . A lion 's mane , which is to say , the majestic head of hair growing around the large male cat 's neck and framing its face is central and unique to it 's appearance , and has always been an iconic symbol of a lion 's strength and physical fortitude , and one which appears to crown and affirm his title as the apparent 'king of the jungle

But the lion wasn 't always king of the jungle , and it didn 't always have

its mane

Once , in the far stretches of an African savannah , where every animal was said to be born and breathed into existence , there lived a maneless male lion , who lacked confidence in his appearance and was unsure of himself , but at the same time , was cunning and malicious

One afternoon , Lion traveled the extent of the savannah looking for a waterhole , and came across a creature with four spindly legs and a set of what appeared to be branches of wood stemming from above its head who went by the name 'Deer . Deer told Lion that it was the first time he had ever seen a creature who appeared so plain and was devoid of any markings and distinctive features whatsoever

Lion was insulted by Deer 's disparaging remark , but told Deer that he had never seen as more common a creature as well , because many of the creatures Lion has come across with bore the same twigs or branches of wood on their heads , and that contrary to Deer 's remark , Lion , not having the said feature , was in fact , what made him distinct and unique This brought Deer to contemplate on his appearance . Lion persuaded Deer to rid himself of the bland thing stemming from his head which made Deer plain , and Deer did as Lion directed , removed his horns and walked away d and elated by his apparent newfound uniqueness . Lion , upon Deer 's departure , took the horns , and wore it for himself

d with his change of appearance , Lion proudly roamed the savannah , and upon reaching the waterhole , came across an animal whose skin was covered with striped markings of black and white , who was called 'zebra . Zebra told Lion that he knew of many animals which grew horns above their heads , but which bore the same markings of black and white as his . Lion , refusing to be categorized among the 'many animals ' who shared the features he thought would separate and distinguish him from the rest of the creatures in the grasslands , and finding that the lie he told Deer appeared to be , in fact , true dispatched of his horns , and took Zebra 's stripes for his own

Bearing stripes of black and white , Lion was on his way home when he saw Cheetah , who bore black circular markings against his brown flesh stood looking at Lion , laughing . Lion demanded to know what Cheetah found hilarious , and Cheetah replied that...