Cool Science on the Tsavo Lions

17 October 2024, 09:08

After being killed by Patterson and mounted by Carl Akeley I would have thought we knew about all we would ever know about these two but, not for the first time, I'd be wrong:

quote:
In 1898, a pair of lions repeatedly raided the tents of an encampment in Kenya, killing at least 28 people. The infamous "Tsavo man-eaters” were eventually shot and their remains put on display at the Field Museum Of Natural History in Chicago, and now a new genomic study has revealed the grim story their teeth have to tell...

They then extracted DNA from individual hair shafts, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to paint a picture of the species that were a part of their diet. The results showed that their “man-eater” status was well earned, as human DNA was detected along with that of giraffes, oryx, waterbucks, wildebeest, and zebra.

Their man-eater ways were infamous, but the fact that wildebeest was on the menu was quite a surprise. Why? Because wildebeest would not have been local.

Link

17 October 2024, 09:58

BaxterB

Neat stuff. Don't think Akeley did these though - they are no where near his talent.

17 October 2024, 10:22

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by BaxterB:
Neat stuff. Don't think Akeley did these though - they are no where near his talent.

I'm not sure where I got the idea he did them, I think part of the "quality" can be explained by the fact that they were first set up as rugs by Rowland Ward, then dismantled in Chicago and made full-body mounts, after 25 years on Patterson's floor.

18 October 2024, 05:58

lavaca

50 miles doesn't seem like a long way for a pair of lions to travel. Plus, wildebeest can turn up where they aren't supposed to be. I shot a western wildebeest in Masailand in July. He shouldn't have been there at that time of year. He was alone hanging out with some zebra.

18 October 2024, 07:57

fulvio

quote:
They then extracted DNA from individual hair shafts, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to paint a picture of the species that were a part of their diet.

If DNA findings are being quoted, then hypothetically speaking these can relate to the family tree of these two Lions which could have (likely) resided in the Mara Region of Kenya.

18 October 2024, 08:56

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by fulvio:
quote:
They then extracted DNA from individual hair shafts, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to paint a picture of the species that were a part of their diet.

If DNA findings are being quoted, then hypothetically speaking these can relate to the family tree of these two Lions which could have (likely) resided in the Mara Region of Kenya.

This was extracted from hair caught in broken teeth.

18 October 2024, 19:07

Jerry Huffaker

They were made into rugs first and then later mounted at the field museum, I'm pretty sure Ackeley didn't mount them.

18 October 2024, 20:19

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
They were made into rugs first and then later mounted at the field museum, I'm pretty sure Ackeley didn't mount them.

Yeah, I don't know where I got that notion, but after looking at the dates it looks like he was probably on his last African expedition when the Field Museum bought the rugs from Patterson.

18 October 2024, 20:57

KMG Hunting Safaris

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

18 October 2024, 23:47

AilsaWheels

Agree with those saying Ackeley didn't mount the lions. It is my understanding the lions were rugs for a number of years before being mounted. They aren't worth a trip to the Field Museum. Ackeley's work in the American Museum of Natural History is amazing. Especially considering the period. Well worth the visit.

19 October 2024, 00:08

AilsaWheels

quote:
Originally posted by fulvio:
quote:
They then extracted DNA from individual hair shafts, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to paint a picture of the species that were a part of their diet.

If DNA findings are being quoted, then hypothetically speaking these can relate to the family tree of these two Lions which could have (likely) resided in the Mara Region of Kenya.

There are or at least were wildebeest in the Amboseli/Chyulu Hills area which abuts the railroad. (My memory from 50+ years ago) Doubt the lions would have had to migrate from the Mara.

19 October 2024, 00:16

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by AilsaWheels:
quote:
Originally posted by fulvio:
quote:
They then extracted DNA from individual hair shafts, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to paint a picture of the species that were a part of their diet.

If DNA findings are being quoted, then hypothetically speaking these can relate to the family tree of these two Lions which could have (likely) resided in the Mara Region of Kenya.

There are or at least were wildebeest in the Amboseli/Chyulu Hills area which abuts the railroad. (My memory from 50+ years ago) Doubt the lions would have had to migrate from the Mara.

To me the variety of game represented argues that they ate humans by choice rather than out of need.

19 October 2024, 00:19

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by AilsaWheels:
Agree with those saying Ackeley didn't mount the lions. It is my understanding the lions were rugs for a number of years before being mounted. They aren't worth a trip to the Field Museum. Ackeley's work in the American Museum of Natural History is amazing. Especially considering the period. Well worth the visit.

I have acknowledged twice (now three times) that I misremembered that detail, just how many do you suppose is necessary?

I didn't revise my original Post because I'm a firm believer in owning one's mistakes, which I have, repeatedly.

How many more times should I do so? 3? 16?

19 October 2024, 00:58

crbutler

Interesting, but as said, not surprising that they ate wildebeest.

Also, game migration patterns could well change. Wasn’t there a massive outbreak of rinderpest that really changed game populations about that time frame- as I recall, T Roosevelt’s safari had a bit of issues finding some types of animals relating to that. That was, IIRC, relatively shortly before the whole rail project that the Tsavo lions terrorized.

Lions are fundamentally lazy cats. A bunch of easy pickings humans around (the mortuary practice was to haul workers who died into the bush) until they became habituated would explain their good health but still choosing to eat people.

19 October 2024, 01:12

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by crbutler:
Interesting, but as said, not surprising that they ate wildebeest.

Also, game migration patterns could well change. Wasn’t there a massive outbreak of rinderpest that really changed game populations about that time frame- as I recall, T Roosevelt’s safari had a bit of issues finding some types of animals relating to that. That was, IIRC, relatively shortly before the whole rail project that the Tsavo lions terrorized.

Lions are fundamentally lazy cats. A bunch of easy pickings humans around (the mortuary practice was to haul workers who died into the bush) until they became habituated would explain their good health but still choosing to eat people.

I think rinderpest explains why buffalo wasn't represented in their diet, although I'm sure that the sample was incomplete, representing only those hair remains that survived the treatment and cleaning (presumably dermestid beetles rather than chemicals) the skulls underwent.

20 October 2024, 00:27

Black Lechwe

If one considers how little hair humans have, the result seems all the more remarkable

20 October 2024, 00:49

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by Black Lechwe:
If one considers how little hair humans have, the result seems all the more remarkable

Presumably the human hair would have been among the most recent additions to the collection trapped in the broken teeth.

20 October 2024, 01:07

crbutler

All mammalian skin has hair for the most part. It may be rather fine, but it’s there.

I’m impressed that over 100 years and multiple taxidermy procedures they still can extract that DNA and identify it.

There cannot be much caught in tooth cracks.

20 October 2024, 02:14

Brian Canada

Very interesting, Thank you. Brian

20 October 2024, 04:44

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by crbutler:
All mammalian skin has hair for the most part. It may be rather fine, but it’s there.

I’m impressed that over 100 years and multiple taxidermy procedures they still can extract that DNA and identify it.

There cannot be much caught in tooth cracks.

Assuming the header image on the article is one of the subject lions I'm not sure "crack" is the right word...

20 October 2024, 11:36

KMG Hunting Safaris

quote:
Originally posted by Jefffive:
quote:
Originally posted by AilsaWheels:
quote:
Originally posted by fulvio:
quote:
They then extracted DNA from individual hair shafts, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to paint a picture of the species that were a part of their diet.

If DNA findings are being quoted, then hypothetically speaking these can relate to the family tree of these two Lions which could have (likely) resided in the Mara Region of Kenya.

There are or at least were wildebeest in the Amboseli/Chyulu Hills area which abuts the railroad. (My memory from 50+ years ago) Doubt the lions would have had to migrate from the Mara.

To me the variety of game represented argues that they ate humans by choice rather than out of need.

Easier prey? Compared to Wildebeest, Zebra etc humans are sitting ducks.

20 October 2024, 21:41

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by KMG Hunting Safaris:
quote:
Originally posted by Jefffive:
quote:
Originally posted by AilsaWheels:
quote:
Originally posted by fulvio:
quote:
They then extracted DNA from individual hair shafts, and while it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to paint a picture of the species that were a part of their diet.

If DNA findings are being quoted, then hypothetically speaking these can relate to the family tree of these two Lions which could have (likely) resided in the Mara Region of Kenya.

There are or at least were wildebeest in the Amboseli/Chyulu Hills area which abuts the railroad. (My memory from 50+ years ago) Doubt the lions would have had to migrate from the Mara.

To me the variety of game represented argues that they ate humans by choice rather than out of need.

Easier prey? Compared to Wildebeest, Zebra etc humans are sitting ducks.

Yeah, no lion ever got kicked to death by an Indian coolie, a zebra or giraffe is a lot tougher customer. Plus, dumping the bodies of those who die of injuries or illness in the brush is an ideal way to teach lions that people, while salty, are fairly tasty as long as water is available.

20 October 2024, 22:14

fulvio

quote:
dumping the bodies of those who die of injuries or illness in the brush is an ideal way to teach lions that people, while salty, are fairly tasty as long as water is available.

Actually the main participants to the banquet are Hyenas and Vultures.

I doubt that those who were involved in the disposal of corpses ever thought that Lions might partake and I further doubt they were knowledgeable on the consequences that would derive from this practice; these being the creation of man-eating Lions.

Some indigenous tribes to this very day still "dump" corpses in the brush for the Hyenas to take care of.

20 October 2024, 23:46

crbutler

The density of corpses would be very different.

Not very many folks die per day in a low density village.

The number of essentially slave laborers working in unfamiliar conditions would be several a day.

Hyena only get so much…

21 October 2024, 00:10

Jefffive

quote:
Originally posted by crbutler:
The density of corpses would be very different.

Not very many folks die per day in a low density village.

The number of essentially slave laborers working in unfamiliar conditions would be several a day.

Hyena only get so much…

If I recall the high mortality was part of the moniker "The Lunatic Express". Wikipedia says almost 2,500 workers died out of 36,000 in total in 8 years.

Link