Other male lion coalitions from Masai Mara

[Gamiz]

Earless and Boxernose
After our little photo session the same night the hungry lions found their bonanza: A hippo had died and had been pulled out of the Talek River to avoid water polution.
Credits to Reinhard Ranked Nature Photography

Any carnivore’s dream: A dead hippo provides a meal the size of nearly a ton! No surprise there are different opinions of how and who to eat it…

*This image is copyright of its original author

Earless and Boxernose found the carcass after we left them in late evening: It was 8-9 kilometers away “as the crow flies”, but they made it. And had more steaks than any lion can cope with. Just some hyenas had to be looked for.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Boxernose already had more than just a lion’s share and recovered unbelievingly fast. Last evening he hardly could walk, today he takes on hyenas.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Nevertheless, he isn’t anymore, what he was years ago. The hyena is frightened, but realizes that he is satisfied with big gestures and growls

*This image is copyright of its original author

Under normal conditions such short distance to a lion would be lethal for any hyena.

*This image is copyright of its original author

What a poor jump for a lion! He is full and his legs are thin. He doesn’t dare to follow the scavengers.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Boxernose has had enough. After tiring squabbles in the heat, he looks for some shade.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Not so Earless: When he realizes that the steaks are at stake, he moves in from the shade. And the hyenas make the mistake, to judge him from their experience with Boxernose.

*This image is copyright of its original author

n a split second one scavenger, which was still feeding at the back of the carcass, finds itself in the jaws of a very angry lion.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Earless is still a young male: The hyena escapes with a very severe bite in its back, limping heavily. It might die later from the injuries, but an encounter like this with an experienced older lion would have killed it instantly.

*This image is copyright of its original author

The last two pictures are of Earless , as always fighting with hyenas. Reply