If it looks like a male lion and is perceived as a male lion—well, sometimes it isn’t. That’s the case of Africa’s unusual maned lionesses, which sport a male’s luxurious locks and may even fool competitors.
Though uncommon, maned lionesses have been regularly sighted in the Momba area of Botswana‘s Okavango Delta (including the individual pictured below), where the lion population may carry a genetic disposition toward the phenomenon, according to Luke Hunter, president of the big-cat conservation group Panthera, which collaborates with National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative. (The Society owns National Geographic News.) (Click pic to continue.)
omg yes
But the gender binary is MADE BY NATUUUURREEE, guiz!!
This is freaking awesome. I’d love to get more info on these lionesses once more people have studied how their families work.
,This just made my life!
KNEW IT PPL BEEN TELLING ME FOR YEARS LIKE YOURE A GIRL AND LIONESSES DONT HAVE MANES…..
Bitchhh i been like pleaaassseeeeese
