"Male lions are distinguished from the females by their thick mane. They generally seem to have it easy compared to the females because they do not need to hunt. Food is always hunted by the females, but the males always get to eat first. So all the male lions really do is defend their pride and mate with the gals. With quite a relaxing lifestyle, this male lion appears to stroll casually through the grasslands without a care..." This was my original caption for this image, but I have been alerted to a forum at Fodor's where a writer had taken issue with the information written here. I am not a biologist and I rely on wildlife documentaries and my guides, who are supposed to know the facts, for an insight into the lives of these animals. Unfortunately this information was suggested by that writer to be outdated and incorrect. To read up on his insight into a lion's life, go to http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=4 and click on topic "Appreciation of For Male Lions" on the left.

When our van came across this male lion, it was neither hunting, defending its pride or its position in the pride. Perhaps he was patrolling his territory or having a brief reprieve from his duites. Whatever this lion is up to, I know that his appearance and physical build is meant to intimidate. That has always been my impression of the male lion, and I will conclude as I had in my original caption - that this lion's stocky build and heavy mane definitely tells us that he will be a force to reckon with, if we ever dare to intrude on its territory.