There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
I would agree that humans attribute human characteristics to animals judging from other humans behavior.
Why do we call someone "a snake" or "filthy worm"?
it i because those animals have something we dislike.
similarly we will call someone "brave as a Lion" and this come for the true life of the Lion, see the photo below, You will never see a tiger, puma, leopard or other animal going against a herd of buffallos. You will see a human fighting alone, there are examples in history that one single man kept fighting until he was killed, he didn't surrender.
it is simply nature but the nature of one animal is something we admire while the nature of an other animal is something that we hate.
and so is with humans, some humans are like worms and snakes and others as Lions.
*This image is copyright of its original author
this conclusion of yours is wrong:
"In short, you can attribute any human characteristic to any sort of animal. It doesn't mean they actually possess it, and it certainly is an illusion of the attributor. It doesn't only have to be a lion."
Why humans attribute certain characteristics to Lions and not to other animals, other cats?
It is because Lions have those characteristics much more developed than other cats.
Why do we say "brave as a Lion" and we also use the expression "you chicken out".
Why don't we say ""brave as a chicken", well we do but ironically.
The Lion has been the symbol of several great Empires and Kingdoms and still is, all those Emperors and Kings can't be wrong especially when they fought in the middle of the battlefield and some of them "Died like a Lion".
And all this characteristics make the Lion unique.