Teeny lion cub's attempts to roar are beyond adorable

The mighty lion is the undisputed King of the Jungle, but even the most ferocious hunter needs some time to grow into its instincts. Like its majestic mane or keen hunting skills, a lion's roar is something that develops as the cat matures. In the video below, we see a delightfully pint-sized lion cub attempt to roar — with mixed yet adorable results.

According to Ingo Titze, speech scientist and executive director of the National Center for Voice and Speech, the reason a lion's roar is so effective at demanding our attention — besides how loud it is, of course — has to do with how their vocal cords produce sound. Titze likens lion's vocal cords to those of babies, and the "very loose and gel-like" cords result in irregular vibrations. A baby "cries to have people come to help it," Titze explains. "The lion uses similar attention-getting sound, but mainly to say, 'I am here, this is my territory, get out of here.'"

To see this little lion valiantly try to roar, be sure to check out the video below. Don't forget to share with other big cat fanatics!