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James Tyrrell

Alumni

James had hardly touched a camera when he came to Londolozi, but his writing skills that complemented his Honours degree in Zoology meant that he was quickly snapped up by the Londolozi blog team. An environment rich in photographers helped him develop the ...

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48 Comments

on Farewell to the Hip Scar Male

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Member
Guest

so sad, what a beautiful creature!

Member
Guest

What a marvellous eulogy. Thanks, James.

Member
Guest

SO SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Member
Guest

truly a fine tribute to beautiful lion the Hipscar! i cannot forget that moment when he came straight towards me an year ago as if to greet which indeed is an exhilarating experience of my lifetime. thanks for the wonderful blog and as rightly said the lions are animals and we simply should not associate their natural behavior with humans and judge……

Member
Guest

What a wonderful eulogy for a magnificent lion. Thank you

Member
Guest

Very sad, but wonderful to know he passed of natural causes.

Member
Guest

I’m glad the article talked about his paternal nature. Aside from his eyes, this is how I will remember him – as a steward to the majingilane’s many offspring. Thank you!

Member
Guest

Thank you for telling us his story!

Member
Guest

We were fortunate to see the other 3 males several times during our visit a month ago. Sad that the fourth is gone.

Member
Guest

Thanks James the dynamics of the future will be interesting

Member
Guest

Interesting opinion in the hierarchy subject.

I always thought that he was second in dominance after Dark mane, at least in their first years as kings before he got the bad leg.

I find it very interesting you say Scar nose was more dominant than him, to me Scar nose always seemed to be the most passive of the four. I’ve seen footage of Golden mane(mostly) and Hip scar getting into brawls with Dark mane over women and food, but Scar nose got the hell out of incoming trouble when Dark mane looked to want something.

Also, I always thought he and Dark mane were the older brothers, Golden mane and Scar nose being the younger brothers.

But anyway, thanks for the article and pics James. He will not be forgotten.

Member
Guest

Thanks…well written?

Member
Guest

Such beautiful colouring. As James said, its a consolation that his death was due to natural causes. Sleep well old boy.

Member
Guest

Sad for making RIP

Member
Guest

We will miss him and are sad to hear the news. He was Terri’s favorite with those golden eyes!

Member
Guest

beautifully said.

Member
Guest

A beautiful tribute to a magnificent lion, thank you James!

Member
Guest

So sorry to hear this. I had the pleasure of viewing him with his brothers and also spent time with the ‘babies’ in 2013. Wonderful memories!

Member
Guest

Thank you for such a wonderful tribute. I’ve only been following this coalition for about 3 years and have often wished I knew their entire story. It’s nice to have a little bit of Hip Scar’s background. I’m sad I didn’t know of him and his brothers years ago. I’m heavy hearted that he has passed, but happy that he died the life of a wild Lion, and not at human hands. James – you’re very blessed to have been at Londolozi and witnessed these amazing Lions.

Member
Guest

9 times out of 10, he was always there to protect & he was treated like shite, when he needed them the most. Calling night & day, but they just ignored him ? RIP HAS, no more suffering big guy ?

Member
Guest

As a fellow lion expert I preach the importance of distancing ourselves from antropomorphic bias. Even though you cross into that territory, it is understandable because the Majingilane are simply History’s most brutal killers. I too will shed a tear from the greatest lion coalition of all time passing.

Member
Guest

That’s a brilliant video of the story of the majingilane pride—-thankyou for sharing -brutal but real nature

Member
Guest

Just when I was wondering what this magnificent lions fate was after reading about his poor condition I find out that he has gone. Thank you for a wonderful tribute to a majestic and impressive lion. Yes I feel sad but I am pleased to know that he died of natural causes, if only it was the case for all of them.

Member
Guest

James, thank you so much for this beautiful article and, I guess, eulogy, for Hip Scar. He was indeed a magnificent looking specimen of a male lion and, it appeared he had the patience with the younguns – as shown in the photos. A very sad ending for him, but, as you say, he died of natural causes, in the bush and will be immortalized in pictures and memories. Rest in Peace dear Hip Scar.

Member
Guest

Beautiful photos and wonderful writing!

Member
Guest

I know we are not supposed to attach ourselves to these magnificent beasts, but it is hard not to shed a tear him. He was magnificent and this coalition is infamous!!! Thank you for the beautiful “Celebration” of his life!

Member
Guest

Beautiful Tribute

Member
Guest

So right James, we will grieve for the loss of this beautiful Lion – so majestic and powerful, and we will not forget him. My favourite picture of this coalition is the one that you took a number of years ago, where all four brothers are together, just below Varty Camp, all close together and looking so majestic — better days for the Majingilane. It’s heartbreaking to lose Hip Scar, the gentle soul of the four. I am hoping that his brothers will continue on for a long time to come yet.

Member
Guest

Beautifully said, not too much nor too little. To be able to accept and understand the sometimes seemingly cruel fate of those creatures who have touched our hearts. The realization that a natural death, albeit very sad, is actually proof of a wonderful natural habitat and environment. This shows that Londolozi is truly a natural reserve, where life, and death is played out without human interference, and thus benefiting the conservation of wildlife naturally. Although i feel human involvement may be necessary when pain or suffering exists, one must understand that survival of the fittest is a way of strengthening the species, and has been a way of life many hundreds of years before human interference, which to be honest has mostly caused more harm than good to the species. Well done Londolozi for your documentation of such events so that people everywhere can start to understand the way that is Africa 🙂

Member
Guest

Its sad that he is more with us. He was my fav Majingilane. I guess it was yours too..
I saw a photo on instagram from someone reffering it to as one of Matimba Males londolozi? Have they returned?

Member
Guest

It is hard not to shed a tear for such a magnificent creature. His tender, paternal side was so special. Thank you for the beautiful eulogy. Well Done Scar Hip, be at peace.

Member
Guest

Very very sad! Heartbreaking RIP I ❤ Hipscar… We will miss him so too and thanks for the update James

Member
Guest

That video of him walking on…

Member
Guest

James you have a way with words what a beautiful tribute to a beautiful king RIP Hip scar

Member
Guest

James you have a way with words that was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful king RIP HIP SCAR

Member
Guest

RIP Beautiful Hipscar :'( Thank you James

Member
Guest

Exactly as I expected, you blocked my comment about your biased opinions. What a pity to have had on your property the greatest duo in the documented lion history and kept praising 4 ordinary lions!

Hi Georgel,
We try to keep things current on our blog, ie. we post about the lions currently in the area. We can’t keep harping on about a coalition that died over three years ago, as amazing as they might have been. Once the Majingilane have gone, a new coalition will take their place, and we’ll write about them. If you read the post, you will see that I didn’t want to comment too much on what happened prior to the Majingilane takeover, as I wasn’t at Londolozi then, and I prefer to report on things first hand, rather than from internet forums.
Maybe the Mantimahle males moving in from the south will be the next big thing? Who knows?
To keep living in the past is to forget to appreciate what’s happening around us, a trap we try not to fall into.
Best regards
PS if you have any updates on the Matimba males, we’d love to hear them, as we haven’t seen them in quite a while…

Member
Guest

Lovely tribute James. This beautiful, majestic Lion will not be forgotten and his legacy will live on.

Member
Guest

Great tribute to his amazing life. It seems strange he was the first to die of natural causes while his brothers continue to thrive in their elder years. He lived and died as a king as all male lions should as opposed to be killed by a cowardly hunter seeking a trophy to mount on a wall.

Member
Guest

Great tribute to a great lion. He lived a long life in the wild as a wild lion. Sad to hear of his passsing but glad he died of natural causes in the wild as opposed to dying at hands of some cowardly hunter who seeks his head as a trophy.

Member
Guest

RIP Hip Scar. The sun shines less bright now 🙁

Member
Guest

That video is almost unwatchable thanks to the ridiculously over the top dramatic music and drawn out sequences of disembowelling and killing. The maker clearly thought that this was awe inspiring to watch, whilst I found it quite difficult to stomach. Yes, the reality of nature is that these events occur, but I put it to you, that the lions involved were engaging in this operation to secure territory, food security and their own safety, not merely to flex their muscles. And I do not think that enjoying this type of gruesome spectacle is to be encouraged, harsh reality or not. In fact, I think enjoying it is quite sick.

Member
Guest

farewell hip scar male im happy you had nice and beautiful life

Member
Guest

Thank you James for the touching remembrance of Hip Scar. I always feel their time with us is to short, but I am happy he lived and dies as a free wild lion! I hope we still have a year or two left with the rest of the Majingilanes

What is the current status on the Majingilane coalition?

Hip Scar was the first and it is so sad to know that they are all gone.

Senior Digital Ranger

I love re-reading the stories of our past dominant lions and/or leopards. It makes us so very sad to loose them, but also fo very grateful to have watched them live their wild and free lives. Thank you for the wonderful blog. My favorites were Hip Scar and Black Mane but all were magnificent males.

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