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.
Ubuso and Gore were much worse before, just trailing and following the other two, when they started to appear regularly in Sabi Sands. They both recovered really well as it is displyed by their much better manes. They might not have dark ones like Amahle has, but that does't mean there is necessarily something majorly wrong with them. They are also built differently, esepcially Gore has particularly tall and thin frame and maybe that is more natural then caused by being hindeed by his old injury (if it is really just "proud flesh" protruding) - he might just always be secondary partner of a coalition somewhat like Lambile of Tinstswalo is - also taller and thinner that the other two and possibly struggling a bit at times. And Ubuso is objectively not a helthy lion but not many wild ones are - he has funny front lef paw and missing most of his right lower canine - both are slight hindrance but nothing they prevents him to manage or keep up (yeah back then in Mala Mala after asumed run in with Avoca, he limped quite badly but that is gone now). He is also older than the other three, so we better gets used to him looking more wore down, he is nowhere there but one day he will likely start physically decline sooner that his partners - if he last till then, he is not overly cautious and any male can suddenly perish as the last year proved us.
If one of them is getting thinner then on usual on some pictures, it might be first signs of something to be concerned with but it could be nothing and just normal fluctuation, them not eating much might not even mean they struggle perhaps the opposite, they might starve out a bit due to mating. They will never be so bulky like Amahle is these days, but not many will, he is just build like a tank. Ubuso is close to him in size, a tad taller but with lighter mane, the aforementioned minor issues and slimmer build, even when filled out. Yes, if I would have to bet whcih one of the 4 would die first of natural causes (ie assuming none is killed or seriously injured till then) I would probably say one of the two, but I don't expect it to happen any time soon. Ofc things can change quickly which makes the lion dynamics even more interesting to follow as nothing is ever certain.