Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[Rishi]

(05-12-2018, 12:34 AM)Spalea Wrote: In the "natural way", the animal predators at first kill the weakest prey in order to allow the safest and strongest to survive and reproduce, them and thus  their genes.

The actual asiatic lions are the survivors of an intensiin slaughter which almost exterminated the whole specy in the beginning of the XXth century when only one or two dozen individuals remained. So, perhaps it' s not very amazing, IMO, that the male lions have not recovered their ancient full size. Before seeing the numerous photos you showed here, I believed the asiatic lion was a weakened specy, because their critical number during  the 1910s was too low, thus big risk of consanguinity, birth of sick individuals. Thank to your photos and other ones, I' m convinced that this animal specy is "safe" but, perhaps, its "morphological recovery" is still in progress.

This is only an hypothesis.

I'll not again get into whether numbers ever did actually fall to few dozens or not... Made my stand clear in #365.

Remember @TheLioness's post #375 where a 225kg male fell from a bridge & died? Unfortunately my efforts to find its photos were futile, so i don't know what a 500lb Asiatic looks like.

But it's known that only largest of specimens can reach that mark. These maybe?
(It isn't my area of expertise. Guys, if you think someone's experienced enough to make informed estimate, tag him/her.)

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

I don't think they are getting any larger than those! It's the average that's likely to increase.

But i agree with the rest. Yes, as artificial slaughter stopped & natural selection took over there is hope. That's why i'm so against the Relocation Project even though @Wolverine hates me for it.   
 
BUT as you yourself said, the "recovery" is still only a hypothesis. If i can get new numbers, then we can compare them to the previous ones (from half-century ago) & finally get some confirmation... for better or for worse! Reply