History's most brutal killers, the Majingilane Male Lions

[Matimbalani]

I enjoyed reading the back-and-forth on this thread as it is quite informative and provides different perspective to lion behavior and the history of different coalitions in Sabi Sands. That said I do find the central question of the debate a bit sterile and one that will probably never have a definite answer. 

But my humble take is this: that as with all social animals lions have a complex and rich social lives. While they may have some broad general tendencies, ultimately each individual lion has its own tendencies and predilections that based on specific situations can help or hinder them. That allows them to be adaptable. Some of their behavior will serve them well in certain circumstances but will cause their demise in others. An aggressive lion cub will get to eat more than it's siblings and grow to become a strong and domineering lion in an environment where food is scarce but he will also likely charge into battle with full confidence and get his behind handed to him on a platter. Similarly, an individual lion may not live to his/her full potential as part of a cohesive unit. Think of Sizanani and his limping brother who was clearly a liability and Sizanani could have dumped him found a healthier partner and probably would not have lost two or three years of his life. Or the case of Hip Scar who if I recall correctly did not eat a kill made by the Matshapiris until his brothers returned after chasing their rivals off. So again somethings that's an advantage in one setting is not so in another and ultimately this is what makes lions so interesting.

We as humans tend to ascribe moral weight to these tendencies based on our own value system. So this debate becomes a proxy for our own value systems. Nature zigs and zags.

I think of myself as privileged to be able to follow the lives of lions specially now that loss of habitat and human encroachment may ultimately seal their fate and consign them to displays behind glass walls. 

And finally, as the beer commercial goes: Hairy Belly is the most interesting lion in the wold! May be we can all agree on this point? Reply