September 2023, Kenya

The sun was just about to rise when we found the Enkoyanai pride, home to two black-maned lions, in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya. Nyekundu (on the right) was feasting on a wildebeest kill, while Osupaat rested nearby, keeping a watchful eye on a lioness. A few jackals circled the scene, waiting patiently for an opportunity to scavenge.
 
For most of the following hour, Nyekundu had the carcass all to himself, taking naps between meals, while Osupaat was preoccupied with mating. The jackals, despite their persistence, failed to steal anything but provided plenty of entertainment with their antics.
 
About an hour after sunrise, Osupaat finally decided it was time for breakfast. He walked toward Nyekundu, greeting his brother with a head rub. As Osupaat turned toward the carcass, our eyes briefly met through my lens. His stern expression reminded me of Scar, the infamous villain from The Lion King.
 
To my surprise, just a few moments later, Osupaat rose and approached Nyekundu again. The shock, tension, and perhaps a hint of fear on Nyekundu’s face foreshadowed what was about to unfold. Suddenly, the two males opened their mouths wide in a display of dominance. Osupaat placed his front legs on Nyekundu’s head, asserting control. Despite his apparent fury, Nyekundu seemed reluctant to fight back, attempting instead to dodge his brother’s attacks.
 
The confrontation lasted no more than three seconds, but its impact was clear. Defeated, Nyekundu walked away from the carcass to the far side of the field, leaving his brother to claim the spoils. That was the last time I saw Nyekundu.

He mysteriously vanished on his own territory in Jan. 2024. Ten months later, Lion Sightings confirmed that Nyekundu had died in a human-wildlife conflict—killed by herders in Olare Motorogi after the pride brought down a cow.