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.
"Even the ultimate predator can show some affection! "
What does that mean "ultimate predator" ? The last one ? The top predator of this biotop, the savannah ?
The lions being sociable animals need to have some bonds, socials bonds. And we can be moved to see this "fearce animals" to express each other tenderness, moments of abandon and so on (and the photo of #518 is beautiful). Because they are expressive. Are they able to feel sadness ? Joy ? We believe yes, but we don't know anything. Total mystery...
Life is hard even for the top predators. Absolute certainty...
I remember a Derek Joubert's movie "Three lions into the night" ( I translate the french title "3 lions dans la nuit" ) relating a seizure of power by three male lions precisely. The male reignig in the past over this pride had no choice but fleeing. And thus waisting away after. Several months later, perhaps a year, or even more, in front of all the pride - with the numerous new cubs - this old lion returned. He was a lot skinner, quite weakened, only skin and bones. Just front of the pride, he laid down and never got up. What did it happen into inside his head ? To come back in front of his ancient pride, to see it once again, once ultimate again and die ? The Joubert's sentence to the picture "we refrain from judging and linking with human feelings (ie not to be anthropomorphic) but sometimes...".
"But sometimes..." That says it all... We will never know !
We can only glimpse a total mystery, something very powerful, at the time when these animals and lot of other are going to disappear because of us. Total tragedy.