The national animal of England is the lion. The lion, though obviously not native to England today, has been an important national symbol for many centuries and has featured in heraldry of many different noble houses. They were originally derived from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Aquitaine.
Lions are among the most important animals, symbolically speaking, in the whole world.
They have made an impact on just about every culture that was aware of them in the past, and though their natural range is mostly reduced to Africa today, their symbolic impact remains clear to see in many European countries.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of England?
The national animal of England is the lion.
This may come as something of a surprise as you will certainly not expect to find lions out in the wilds of England.
The lion is an important historical symbol in England, though, rather than being a literal member of the country’s actual wildlife.
There’s one thing to clear up about this right away, though. You are no doubt familiar with the “three lions” of England, as these still feature on many symbols like the Royal Coat of Arms as well as the badge of the England football team and other sports teams.
Historically, these were called the lions passant guardant, and were referred to not as lions but as leopards.
This, though, is more a question of heraldic nomenclature than of the species. In this context, the term “leopard” refers not to the kind of animal but to the pose they are in.
The three lions of England are facing forward but have the sides of their bodies towards the front.
Their right front paw is raised.
This is a convention in heraldry and so this is why you may also hear them referred to as leopards.
Most in England today think of them as lions, and so by common association, this is what they thought of, and certainly they sport the mane of a lion which distinguishes them from a leopard.
The precise appearance of this heraldic symbol has changed a lot over the years, but it has remained virtually the same since the time of King Henry VIII at least in the context of the Royal Coat of Arms.
So, whereas many national animals are about the country’s actual wildlife, England’s is much more symbolic.
Why is the lion the national animal of England?
The lion is the national animal of England for reasons of the historic ruling houses of the kingdom.
You are likely aware that for several centuries, England was ruled by the French; from the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 the ruling house of England, the Plantagenet dynasty, was French in origin though decreasingly so in terms of culture.
Henry II was the first Plantagenet king, and his wife was the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine.
The symbol of the royal house of Aquitaine was the lion, and it was around this time that the lion was first adopted as the national symbol of England and its ruling house.
It’s important to remember that while the symbol is important in England generally today, at one time it was just considered to bet the Coat of Arms of the royal household.
So, as best we can tell, the lion symbol derived from the Duchy of Aquitaine, which Henry II ruled through his wife along with vast swathes of other French territory.
The lion today is seen, of course, as a symbol of English strength, courage and pride, and among the most recognizable national symbols in Europe.
But, ultimately, it is French in origin.
Did lions ever live in England?
Lion fossils have been found in England, but they are estimated to have disappeared from England around 40,000 years ago.
At this time, Britain was still connected to mainland Europe by a land bridge meaning species could migrate across.
Obviously, though, 40,000 years is far too long for any actual folk memory of lions to survive, and so the symbol in England is not in any real way a remembrance of a time when lions were native to the island.
Lions today are virtually only found in Africa, with another small population still extant in India; so how many are left?
How many lions are left in the world?
Estimates vary fairly drastically, but one way or another the species is at dire risk.
The estimates are anywhere from 20,000 to around 40,000 individuals remaining, which represents an enormous decline from its past numbers, and the species is profoundly threatened by hunting and the loss of its habitat.
Conservation efforts are underway to ensure the continued survival of this keystone species, but the challenges they face are certainly huge.
Without global, concerted effort, the species may be extinct as early as 2050 unless things can be dramatically turned around, and one of the most important symbolic animals in the world would be lost.
So, again, though there are no lions in England today, their symbolic importance is more or less universally understood and appreciated.
They are symbols of power and strength, not to mention the simple historical association that has made them so important to English people since at least the Middle Ages.
Though humans do not and perhaps never in recorded history did remember a time now when lions did live in England, they have made their mark nonetheless.