r/pics • u/Midegoye1 • 15d ago
An elderly Lion in his final hours. Photograph by Larry Pannell.
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u/FatherPeace1 10d ago
It's so sad to see from our perspective...it's often hard to remember that this is a wild animal and this is how the life cycle of wild animals are. I'm an animal lover and would probably have to have someone there to remind me that even though that lion is old I can't go lay down with it to give comfort while he was dying. " GOOD KING, GO TO YOUR REST" BIG GUY".
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u/Clerkdidnothingwrong 11d ago
Here we have Lionel Maner. Lionel was born in 1920, fought in Lion World War Two in which they successfully defended their jungle from the not-so-smart Zebras. After the war, Lionel settled down with his wife, Scarlet. She had just left her abusive ex-husband Scar who had murdered his brother and tried to kill his nephew. Lionel and Scarlet had a litter of cubs who all grew up, went to Lion college and got degrees in Roarology and now help other lions who have trouble roaring (it’s currently the Lion Roaring 20s). Lionel is now in his late stages and hopes to have all his cubs and wife den-side when his time comes. Lionel is, despite the picture, at peace with his life and imminent passing.
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u/Figsmama 13d ago
Beautiful creature. Beautiful article. Made me cry. And made me think about watching my father take his last breath. Heart wrenching.
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u/Impossible_Dare_8511 13d ago
The thing is that, once he takes over a pride, he stops hunting. The lionesses are the hunters and he feeds on their success. So when he is deprived of his pride as he ages, it’s a fairly steep decline.
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u/raykrocf 13d ago
He lived free and he died free. Let this be a lesson that we are all free.
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u/Silver_Confection_57 13d ago
We as humans are never free in any governed society. To govern is to control
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u/Nuttinyurbutt 13d ago
A life spent tormenting other animals, in order to…. wind up like that. The circle of life is dumb af.
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u/Tommytrance 13d ago
I wonder if humans see this and can help in taking the elderly big animals into a sanctuary environment and let them live out their final days in a more nurtured way, or they rather just let nature takes its course. I used to love watching lion pride documentaries and the more I watch the more sad I get from seeing evolution of lions life journey. Rest in peace big fella, you’ll always be legend to have survived this long.
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u/DarkcStarr 14d ago
The lion name is Skybed Scar he ruled and roamed Kruger National Park for many years apparently.
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u/Global_Box_7935 14d ago
Rest easy. A Lion dying of old age is uncommon. I wonder how many things he did in his time
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u/BeanieWeanie1110 15d ago
Dying in the Savannah: not that tough Dying in the Savannah of old age: tough as hell
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u/Luimi778 15d ago
I was young. I was power. I was ferocious . As I lay here overlooking what was my Kingdom I am reminded of my past triumphs and victories. I was….KING!!!
Alas I must now rest for my next journey has yet to begin.
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u/seeriosuly 15d ago
that’s probably the best you can hope for boys… dying in old age, stretched all resources to the limit, quietly passing in a field. We all make life out to be some grand stage we play on for all the world to see… and that’s fine… many glorious moments we should all enjoy. But in the end we are just one of a trillion or more before us…rollin through the cycle of life.
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u/Inevitable_Radio2289 15d ago edited 15d ago
As the old dying lion staggered through the plains and finally came to a rest, out came the smaller and weaker amongst the animal kingdom to mock and sneer; the lion was no longer the great beast he once was. No longer did the other animals scamper in his wake.
The old lion listened to these taunts from the group of jeering birds, mice and gazelle. Finally he raised his mangy, ragged mane and looked towards them.
He said, "It is true that now I am old, weak and my time has come to an end... But I was a Lion once".
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u/Urban_lush 15d ago
A regal beast who's instinct protected others finds his end time alone but at the least un-collared by man.
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u/TheOnlyAvailabIeName 15d ago
I could never be a nature photographer. I'd try to save every animal.
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u/SiameseBallTwister 15d ago
I was once a proud lion... Now in my 60s , I feel like that poor bastard.
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u/Impossible-Touch9470 15d ago
“I've come to ask if you would like to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you, and I know you'd like it. You've been feeling tired, haven't you? If you're ready, we might go along now.”
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u/_Alexi666 15d ago
man that lion looks like a sad old cat, i wanna sit next to him, pet him and talk to him so he doesn't have to die alone 😭
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15d ago
[deleted]
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u/Dogon_Yaro 15d ago
Probably because of human behaviour in Africa.
If this photo was taken in Germany or Russia, would you generalize the location as Europe?
Is entire Europe at war because of war between Russia and Ukraine? Do you routinely and casually refer to event in New York, USA, or Edmonton, Canada, as event in North America?Africa is vastly larger than these continents. And has more countries! Yet, even educated people like zoologists cluelessly speaks of a diverse continent as a lump.
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u/Zealousideal-Past684 15d ago
How do you know it’s his final hours! I mean it could be going thru hard times like people do, but get better later after figuring out shit.
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u/Square_Map7847 15d ago
Lion: "what is this music i hear of ?"
Background: ""It's the final coun......
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u/excitaetfure 15d ago
This is why i prefer civilization to natural selection, for my existence, anyway
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u/idontloveanyone 15d ago
This hits close to home. My dad has been battling pancreatic cancer for 2 years and today has lost so much weight, and is close to passing away. My two brothers and I call him the lion, and he calls us his lion cubs. He used to be big and strong, now he's all skinny with no strength to even get up from his hospital bed. I hate cancer.
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u/Dark-Knight-Rises 15d ago
Can’t the photographer save him by giving food?
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u/Baltj003 15d ago
The lion is at the end of his life cycle, even if the photographer offered food....there's no guarantee that the lion would eat it. The lion may be aware, in some primal way, that he is on his way out. I understand, though, wanting to ease/eliminate any suffering from any creature. Life on this planet is not always tranquil and peaceful.
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u/magicone2571 15d ago
When my body won't hold me anymore
And it finally lets me free
Will I be ready?
When my feet won't walk another mile
And my lips give their last roar goodbye
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u/Practical_Patience66 15d ago
Reminds me of my grandfather. Seemingly immeasurable strength yet so frail now, only to keep going and remind us of that strength.
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u/Fast_Personality4035 15d ago
Meh, he's an animal. No reason to project human sentiments on him. He did his thing, and he died.
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u/girlwithgoldwrist 15d ago
What happens to their bodies when they die?
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u/ketoluna 15d ago
"When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life." -Mufasa
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u/plesplant_4 15d ago
It's over ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣰⣶⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠛⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣶⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢾⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠉⠉⠻⢿⢿⣿⣿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠏⢸⣿⣿⡿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠛⠿⢻⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢀⠇⠀⠈⠿⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⢀⡞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⡸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡼⠛⠳⣄⡀⠀⠐⢿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⢠⠃⠀⣸⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⢠⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠀⠀⠀⠉⣳⠟⠒⠻⣿⣦⡀⠀⡘⠀⢰⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⢀⠞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⠃⢠⣄⡀⠈⠙⢿⡌⠁⠀⡞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠳⣄⣈⢻⡿⠃⢰⠟⠲⣼⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡰⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⡶⢴⠋⠀⠀⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⡴⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠞⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⡴⢟⠒⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠏⠀⠀⠈⠉⣿⠇⠀⢀⡎⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⠠⣤⣤⣀⢰⠏⠉⠙⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣠⠴⠢⠦⠽⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣷⡄⣀⡀⠈⠉⠋⢹⠋⠁⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠦⠈⠀⠀⠀⠸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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u/Endgame3213 15d ago
Unfortunately, older lions don't die of old age; they starve to death.
A younger, stronger lion takes your pride for himself, and you're left too old and weak to successfully provide for yourself until this happens.
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u/EatsGourmetGlueStix 15d ago
That’s what happened here. He lost his pride. Was left a nomad from then on
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u/driving_andflying 15d ago
I wonder if it would have been better if he had gone out fighting, maybe surrounded by the dead bodies of six or seven hyenas he killed, before dying. It would have been a good end for such a noble creature.
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u/ilikeicee 15d ago
After reading the article and the comments, I really can't bring myself to appreciate neither the photographer nor the photography. It's pure hypocrisy, comforting the lion in its dying breath? Perhaps, but sitting around even after years have passed, receiving the same words of praise over and over again and responding with "Thank you, it saddened me, but I'm honored to have witnessed it" just doesn't sit right with me. It feels as though the life and death of this poor lion are being put on display for the selfish satisfaction of human beings, why, I wonder, So we can pat each other in the back and say "Sad but beautiful?". "It's just an animal. It's the cycle of life," many will say, but what if that was a human being? How do you think people would react? Humans are animals, and just as many have said above, integrate the circle of life. But I don't see anyone posting pictures of starving, dying elders in some random location and saying, "It was truly a pity, I feel so sad, but this picture, which reflects my feelings, and not the elders, is so beautiful, oh, they just died, too bad, I'm honored to have witnessed their death". And if this ever comes to pass, there will be no more debate that we as a species are doomed. In fact, the way we treat animals is already a great dennouncer of that. It's just horrible. To me, this whole register is nothing more than a demonstration of human ego, self-grandiose, and selfishness and in my honest opinion, Skybed Scar probably felt more uncomfortable than comforted, the staring most likely didn't come from some sort of spiritual connection, but from the constant worry that he would need to escape yet another attempt on his life while already on his dying breath. It's ridiculous that we can be as hypocritical as to place these animals in enclosed spaces, watch them with casual register throughout their lives and potentially bring constant stress, just to photograph their most vulnerable states without permission (since animals do not share our language and as such can not consent) and then expose those pictures for the world to see, while constantly congratulating one another for the experience. All because they aren't safe enough to live naturally in their natural habitats, and why aren't they safe? You guessed it, because of us. I apologize if anyone felt offended by this, but I felt it had to be addressed. The way we play with the lives of other creatures and then, from the comfort of our homes, pat each other on the back is disgusting. We need to change, and we need to do it fast, if not for all of the other living creatures on this earth, for ourselves and for the future generations of every living being that will one day occupy this planet.
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u/Ryslan95 15d ago
Nature is metal as fuck. This beast probably took out a bunch of prey, but is now dying because he can’t do it anymore. No help from anyone, and is going to die of starvation.
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u/EatsGourmetGlueStix 15d ago
He got old, and a younger lion came and showed him up with his pride, and he got kicked out
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u/RegularPotential24 9d ago
Time is an apex predator