The Fox and the Sick Lion Story

This is an old Aesop story of an old lion and a clever fox. The old lion tricked animals but was not intelligent enough to make a fox fall into a trap. What was the lion’s plan? How did the fox dodge imminent death? What was the lion’s intention? Read this story to find out what the fox did to live another day.

The Fox and the Sick Lion Short Story

Once upon a time, a huge forest was ruled by a lion. The lion was becoming weaker day by day due to old age. His bones were not that strong. His teeth cannot tear the strong flesh of a fresh kill.

He was aware that if this went on, he would one day die from starvation. He thought and thought about a good plan that would bring food to his mouth. The jungle animals were no longer stupid, but they cared about the king.

The lion realized that the animals were not clever like him. He could make a good plan to trick them and bring them closer to his den. Thus, he made an evil plan.

The Old Lion

The Evil Plan of the Lion

 Animals learned that their king was not keeping well. News spread like wildfire in the forest. They wanted to find out what happened to the king and visited the den.

One day, a donkey approached the den and asked, “Oh, the mighty king! How are you?” The lion said, “I am not doing well. I am weak and sick. Thanks for coming to see me.”

The donkey replied, “But I can’t see you from here. The den is dark.”

The lion replied, “Why don’t you come in and see?” The donkey believed in his kind words and entered the den. The lion was waiting for the easy kill. He enjoyed a hearty meal and slept well.

After a few days, a deer came to check on the lion. He asked, “How are you doing, my lord?

The lion replied, “I am not well. I cannot move as my bones are weak and painful. Why don’t you come in and see?” The same fate was waiting for the deer.

Days passed by, and the lion was able to regain his health. The animals could not find their family members and were surprised.

The Clever Fox Arrived

One day, a fox heard the news and wanted to visit the lion. He also heard that animals are going missing. To investigate, the fox approached the den.

The lion asked, “Who has come to see me in my last days?” The fox replied, “It is me, the fox of the jungle. How are you, my king?”

The Fox Talking to the Old Lion

The lion replied, “I am not doing well! I cannot move due to sickness. Why don’t you come in and talk with me in peace?”

When the lion was talking, the fox was clever enough to check the surroundings. He said, “No, thank you, my lord! I see footsteps of animals going in but no one coming out!”

The fox did not waste a second and returned to the jungle and told all the animals what had happened.

Moral of the Fox and the Sick Lion Short Story

The Sick Lion and the Fox Story moral depicts that one should learn from other mistakes. People should be careful enough not to fall for the traps set by liars and cons. Never trust a fake person, or it will cost you dearly.

Tips for Teachers and Parents

Elaborate this Aesop’s fable, The Fox and The Sick Lion Story with pictures so that students can understand the concepts faster. They will also be able to grab the moral and the life lesson hidden in this story.