Lions of Timbavati

[BA0701]

(07-10-2024, 10:56 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote:

(07-10-2024, 09:06 PM)KM600 Wrote: Not sure if anyone is gonna be able to answer this but imma ask it anyways. So as we all know, lions with darker manes are always said to have higher testosterone levels than their counterparts right. Are white lions assumed to have lower testosterone than their brothers / coalition members? Always wondered because when I’ve seen photos of Casper, I’ve noticed he does have a lil darkness in his mane and yet as far as I know, was seen as the least dominant member. I have actually tried researching this myself but it never led to anything, so I’m not entirely sure there’s an answer.

I dont think this applies for white gene males, they are "anomaly".

Also, theres no "evidence" that supports this theory that darker maned males are more dominant then blondish ones.

Just as we have coalitions where dark maned males where most dominant, we also have coalitions where they where not.

While I agree, the white gene males are the result of a genetic anomaly, though different from albinism, it is the result of a genetic marker that leads to this specific lack of pigment, while the eyes and the nose remain a color that is not pink.

But, about the testosterone causing darker manes evidence. After watching Brothers in Blood, I was left under the impression, based on the comments of that researcher in the movie, that they know this to be the case. He, obviously, did not delve into the subject, but his comment "we know that black maned males have a higher testosterone count" was said in a way as to lead one to believe it was factually based. Is that not true, have they not actually looked into that deep?

An interesting aside, back when I was reading about the white lions, one thing I came across was that they still permit trophy hunting of lions in the Greater Timbavati region, I assume that comment was referring to areas like the dreaded Sandrigham, which as you found, yourself, that reserve is known to permit poaching. Reply