THE LION CITY
“Singa” is derived from the Sanskrit word
simha, which means lion – much like the
lovable character of Simba in Disney’s The
Lion King! (Simba means “lion” in Swahili,
the local language in Kenya). This is the
origin behind Singapore’s nickname “The
Lion City” – although as far as we know,
there have never been any lions on our little
island – unless you count the merlion, that is.
Or tigers. Tigers were mostly sighted in the
jungle around Bukit Timah, Choa Chu Kang,
and Pulau Ubin during the mid-18th to early
19th centuries. Sadly, the last tiger was shot
on the island in 1930.
We call it “the little red dot”,
but Singapore consists
of 63 islands!fun fact
No.46 Issue 41111