"" The Addis Ababa Zoo in Ethiopia is home to the descendants of a collection of lions that belonged to the late emperor Haile Selassie, revered by the Rastafarian movement. Unlike other lions, these big cats have dark manes that extend all the way to their chest and belly. Now researchers say their genes also set them apart.

A group of scientists led by Susann Bruche, of Imperial College London, studied the DNA of eight males and seven females in the zoo. The team found the zoo lions are genetically distinct from all other existing lions. In total, the zoo houses 20 lions that belonged to the collection of Emperor Selassie who founded the zoo in 1948 with seven founding lions (five males and two females); these were said to have been captured in south-western Ethiopia though their geographical origin remains controversial.

The males currently at Addis Ababa Zoo are thought to be the last lions with such thick, dark manes. Wild populations are believed to have vanished due to over=hunting for the manes, the researchers said, but some sightings of lions with similar locks have been reported in the east and northeast of Ethiopia. [See Photos of the Unique Lions]

The researchers said field surveys could confirm those reports. More urgently, a captive breeding program at the zoo could ensure that the tiny population doesn't die out.""

Some of the captive-bred lions in South Africa have a strong resemblance to the above and it would be more than likely that the genes from these Zoo specimen have found their way to the lion breeders down south.

Interesting!

Pictures of the Cape Lion were very similar.

Logic would certainly suggest that the southern African lions are far more likely to be related to the Cape Lions than the Barbary ones and FWIW, I seem to remember looking into it a few years ago and certainly then, there was a lot of websites etc that suggested that was the most likely scenario.

Interesting that hunting the relative small numbers could suggest altering the gene pool that much.

Jeff

Freaky to remember hearing them roar across the city at night. Their keepers were so mean -- remember one slamming a timber on a male's paw to make him roar for tourists. They were prolific, but don't know what happened to the cubs...

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
Some of the captive-bred lions in South Africa have a strong resemblance to the above and it would be more than likely that the genes from these Zoo specimen have found their way to the lion breeders down south.

One thing that struck me when looking at my Kingdon African mamal guide was the close relationships between animals in NE Africa (Ethiopia etc) and SW Africa (Namibia & South Africa). The ones that stick in my mind are dik diks and warthogs sub species. The gap in oryx and white rhino distribution across central Africa is interesting in this light as well.

As for the disappearance of the black maned lions in that part of Africa, I'm sure it was the trophy hunter and not the thousands of herdsmen with AK-47s that is to blame .

Cheers,
Dean

Cape Lion Stuff. Interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Lion

http://news.nationalgeographic...7/0726_capelion.html

http://www.petermaas.nl/extinc...iesinfo/capelion.htm

Neat stuff,
White tailed deer get larger in body size the further north you travel. There larger bodys help them endure the cold temps of the north. It makes perfectly good sense that lions living in the far south could have developed larger bodys and thicker coats to help them survive the cold and damp weather of winter.

A few years ago I saw in a restuarant/bar in Cairns, Australia, what I believe is a lifesize mount of a Barbary lion.

It was an old mount and the taxidermist definitely would not have won an award even if he were a contest's only entrant, but it seemed to fit all the descriptions I've seen for that subspecies. It was very large and had s very dark mane that covered all of its belly and chest and almost all the way down its front legs.

It would be interesting to know more about this animal's history.

Bill Quimby

Bill, thats my Tavern, the Cock n Bull. I bought the lion, cw chital/axis deer at its feet, about twenty years ago. Decor for the Carnivore Grill. Thick mane on chest and belly all the way to back legs. I was told it was originally in a zoo. I tell those who ask it is a descendant of the lions the Romans used on the Christians in the Colosseum. Sometimes I tell fair ladies I gave it the right barrel at 40 feet, the left at 20 feet and it skidded to a halt at 2 feet! By the way, the elk man from NZ flew home an hour ago after 6 days marlin fishing with me. Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by johnnomarlin:
Bill, thats my Tavern, the Cock n Bull. I bought the lion, cw chital/axis deer at its feet, about twenty years ago. Decor for the Carnivore Grill. Thick mane on chest and belly all the way to back legs. I was told it was originally in a zoo. I tell those who ask it is a descendant of the lions the Romans used on the Christians in the Colosseum. Sometimes I tell fair ladies I gave it the right barrel at 40 feet, the left at 20 feet and it skidded to a halt at 2 feet! By the way, the elk man from NZ flew home an hour ago after 6 days marlin fishing with me. Cheers

Any Granders still around?

quote:

Posted Oct 20, 4:15 AM Hide Post
Bill, thats my Tavern, the Cock n Bull. I bought the lion, cw chital/axis deer at its feet, about twenty years ago. Decor for the Carnivore Grill. Thick mane on chest and belly all the way to back legs. I was told it was originally in a zoo. I tell those who ask it is a descendant of the lions the Romans used on the Christians in the Colosseum. Sometimes I tell fair ladies I gave it the right barrel at 40 feet, the left at 20 feet and it skidded to a halt at 2 feet! By the way, the elk man from NZ flew home an hour ago after 6 days marlin fishing with me. Cheers

Wow! What a small world. My grandson and I heard about your place when visiting the reef, and we were not disappointed with the great food, the ambiance or the friendly staff and patrons.

I've recommended your place to several friends who have visited Cairns since then.

Bill Quimby

Hey Johnnomarlin long time no talk!!! How are you man?

Bill,
What you really missed out on was listening to Johnnomarlin tell his real lion hunting story after he has had a few drinks! He is a very good story teller!

The plot thickens....."John No Marlin"..."Cock n Bull" Tavern ....the lion story for the fair ladies.... probably tagging "Granders" every other day

Bill, bloke with 400+ NZ elks just fished with me..no granders LEDVM, Rosenfals at S Chewore in 06 with James Rosenfals and Nigel Thiessen..Pete Barnard and Nick Orphanides.. Great times. Fujo... a few granders around, not back of my boat yet I'm an oldtime AR reader..new at posting..Cheers, Johnno

Graham good times indeed!

If I come visit you in OZ...you gonna take me fishin?

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
The plot thickens....."John No Marlin"..."Cock n Bull" Tavern ....the lion story for the fair ladies.... probably tagging "Granders" every other day

Fujo,
Nigel can vouch for him!