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| credit: George Logan |
Lion conservationists around the world are mourning the death of a lion king, Scarface, whose gnarled visage and abundant mane made him an icon of the Mara in Kenya. The Kenyan Wildlife Service announced his death at age fourteen of natural causes, "in peace without any disturbance from vehicles or hyenas”. That death of itself is becoming unusual as lions and all large predators struggle to survive in a natural world unmade by man. Male lions are lucky to reach age 15, their time often cut short by brutal conflict, disease, or injuries. The fact that Scar lived free in his wild home to the end is an inspiration to many. He was the head of many Mara prides. Tourists sought him out to view and capture his image.
Nearing the end of his life, Scarface walked 25 kms to rest in a place near where his sojourn on Earth began. Other, younger males, left him alone prehaps sensing Scar was meeting his end. His passing leaves only one surviving member of the "Four Musketeer Coalition" that ruled many prides of the Mara. Scarface became a celebrity, featured in several documentaries, including BBC's Big Cat Diaries. His passing may help raise funding devastated by the pandemic to protect the remaining wild African lions who have gone from a poplation of 100,000 in the 60's to just 20,000 today. He will be missed.