What is the national animal of England?
The national animal of England is the lion. Three lions have appeared on the royal arms of England since the late 1100s, and the symbol is still used by the England football and cricket teams.
The three lions, shown walking with one paw raised, were first used by King Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart. They became the coat of arms of English kings.
Lions never lived wild in medieval England, but they were seen as symbols of courage, strength and royalty. Kings even kept lions in the royal menagerie at the Tower of London.
Three Lions in sport
The England national football team's badge features three lions, and the team is often called the Three Lions. A famous song of that name was released for Euro 96 by Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds.
The lion also appears on the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, alongside the unicorn, which represents Scotland.
Some people suggest that the robin, the bulldog or the red fox could also represent England, but the lion remains the traditional national animal. Lions appear on statues around London, including the four bronze lions at the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.