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.
02-15-2022, 05:49 AM( This post was last modified: 02-15-2022, 05:54 AM by Cath2020 )
Lambile doesn't look good at all. Reminds me of Scar Tumbela. I think he will go the same route, unfortunately.
As for his affliction, it could very well be genetics. If it's an x-linked issue (which are very well documented in humans), these males could have had the gene passed only down the maternal line....or it could be a y-linked disease, passing directly down from Sizanani himself. However, Siz. survived to about 9-10 years of age, and wasn't as severely affected by TB (or whatever else he had, maybe just a severe injury from a buffalo hunt). I wonder if the rangers took DNA samples from his body after he died and had experts compare them to that of his sons. With x-linked issues, a male would ONLY need one copy of a defective gene, unlike females, who could be carriers.
Maybe Lambile and Scar were littermates? (or their mothers were closely related...) Did they get one of the afflicted x-linked copies from their mother? I would closely watch the future male offspring from their natal pride, to see if their younger males will waste away as adults, too. If not, it could be passed from father to son, instead.
If it's genetic, this is all as a result of too much inbreeding, leading to disease susceptibility.
I'm very curious as to what ails some of the poor males, and a fewer number of the females.