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Adam Bannister

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12 Comments

on Why don’t all male lions have Black manes?

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WOW!

Margarita Doychinova
Guest

Interesting information!!!

TED SWINDON
Guest

Morning Adam,
I am fascinated at what you have described here! I have seen some really superb specimens of black maned lions in the Kalahari, where it is intensely hot.
This is of interest to me because a good friend of mine recently photographed some male lions in the Northern Cape, who’s manes extended down and onto their stomaches.
I would like to send you a photograph, so please would you send me your email address so that I can forward this photograph to you.
I would be very interested to hear your and other authorities comments on this phenomenon, as I certainly had never seen it before.
I look forward to receiving your email, otherwise I could send it to Byron to pass on to you.
Keep well, and thanks for sharing this information with us!
Kind regards,
Ted.

Hi Ted.Thanks for the comment. My immediate reaction is that the very cold kalahari nights may be the reason for the dark manes. The piece I wrote kind of summed up all the insights I had been abel to research but I do feel that there may be no simple answer to this one. I would love to see some pics adbannister@gmail.com Thanks for the comments and I trust that you are well. When will we be seeing you again here?

TED SWINDON
Guest

Hi Adam,
Thanks for your reply, I share the point with you regarding the cold Kalahari nights, although, I must admit that I never knew why, that is why I found your article so fascinating! It is now a logical deduction from what you have described.
I will forward the photograps to you soon, they were taken by Leon Fouche, who you met with me last year, I am sure that you remember him, he is know fast becoming one of our best wildlife Pastel artists (in my humble opinion) He is happy for you to share these with your other site visitors, as they are truly magnificent specimens, almost unusual in fact!
I have booked my next trip, so I will be arriving on Saturday the 1st September, I cannot wait to get back to the bush and Londolozi!
I look forward to catching up with you and all then.
Keep well!
Kind regards,
Ted.

Trevor Packer
Guest

Love the Lion updates Adam, please keep them coming.
Also lovely to see my old cricket coach (Ted) so passionate about the bush.

Regards

Trevor Packer

Shirley
Guest

Thank you for the information. Now I know more about lions.

Senior Digital Ranger

Thank you for the great information.. Don’t think I will look at the dark maned males in quite the same way…

Ali
Guest

what do you mean?

Njuki Mate
Guest

So there are dark mane lions in South Africa? I thought they are found in Ethiopia only. Are they found in Kenya as well?

mercer
Guest

Do female lions prefer males with dark manes over males with light manes; to breed? If so why? Is this a fact or have they done studies on this and is it a fact. Thank you.

God's Creation
Guest

i dont think females have a preference for darker manes. they are attracted to healthy males with high levels of testosterone. the higher the testosterone in the male lion, the thicker and darker the mane. there have been studies done that show females are attracted to men with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which may be involved in a stronger immune system.

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