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.
As we can see, both emails use a round number of about 250 kg and the lion was with a full stomach. The figure of 253 kg is as reliable as a figure of 247 kg, if we take in count a food intake of 33 kg, which is also plausible.
In fact, the largest food intake reported by Schaller was of 33 kg (East Africa), the largest from South Africa was of 35 kg (Apps, 2000), and Packer mention a higher figure of 43 kg from Tanzania. In this case, the weight of this lion could be as low as 237 kg, but the vets estimated that the food intake of this lions was probably about 30 kg, which seems normal for a gorged lion, so the correct figure should be 250 kg empty, which is the one quoted by Almero Bosch. In this cases, round numbers from "estimated values" are the correct ones.
Using this, I think that the correct source that most be quoted for this record male lion should be "Bosch, Pers. Comm. 2013". I will change that in the image.