Comments on: Maned Mystery Lions in Georgia

By: JMonkey

JMonkey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:03:42 +0000

You must also keep in mind that if these are African Lions, then they would not have the exact same kinds of resources that a true African Lion would have. Physiologically this can contribute to stunted growth. Also the waether in Georgia has several extremes, much like most of the South. Cold weather tends to promote hair growth, and I severely doubt that the African Lion would actually be an exception to that rule. At our local Zoo in Oklahoma City the lions get a much thicker mane in the winter. Even our young lion male had a full mane last winter. So we might keep these things in mind as investigators of strange creatures in unnatural environments.

By: JGreg

JGreg — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:12:56 +0000

The third photo (actually the photo the man in the photo is holding) clearly shows a full sized lion. The man in the photo-within-a-photo is clearly one of the men in the second photo which shows a full sized rump sticking out from beneath a a bush. Therefore, coupled with the credible eyewitness reports, I have no doubt it was real non-native lions that were killed in Arkansas. Why the creature in the first photo should look so small and odd, I can’t say, save to suggest it is curled up somewhat (perhaps an action during its dying moments?) and partially the resut of an odd camera perspective. The camera can after all play some strange tricks.

By: maeko

maeko — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:21:12 +0000

well, just goes to show ya…research, research, research! i missed that one, Loren; thanks.

yes, i also found the size bothersome, but i am wary to make judgements on size from photos. being slightly near-sighted, my depth perception is poor. i have a hard time determining size and distance in person!

By: mythusmage

mythusmage — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:05:37 +0000

I have to agree with Inbetween, that is a dinky lion. Lions, even the wimpy little Gur Forest ones, are a dang sight bigger than that specimen. Then there’s the matter of proportions and how the animal was photographed. The smell has gone beyond stink into the realm of stench.

By: Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:29:40 +0000

Maeko writes:

The sexual dymophism displayed by the large mane is, by most indications, unique to modern african-sub lions. cave depictions of the european cave lion do not show large dark manes and the asiatic lion’s main is less pronounced. while the argument can be made that cave drawings may be females, i find, given the historical infatuation with the mane in later human art, that it would have been illustrated had it been present. i am of the belief that the big mane is a more recent evolutionary feature and would not be found with Panthera leo atrox unless developed in parallel.

This is an incorrect statement. I've written elsewhere and cited sources of the maned and unmaned lions that have, indeed, been found in European cave art. See Mysterious America for an entire chapter on these kinds of questions. Also, the USA Today article merely restates the usual, standard confused but status quo responses. It actually tells nothing provable about the actual origins of the 2002 "lions" that were killed and then their bodies burned.

By: greywolf

greywolf — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:48:28 +0000

Most state game agencies do not admit that these animals are loose. They are not doing there job when one is found dead or alive and it is not properly tested and or dna tested to see where it came from and any other clues to aid it the identification of the animal and perhaps the owner.

By: cryptidsrus

cryptidsrus — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:55:09 +0000

Looking forward to more reports about this to come from the Georgia backwoods. Would be exciting (for us here, at least) to know that Maned Lions roam the Georgia countryside. Hall County is not TOO far away from where I live. Hopefully nothing “unfortunate” will happen if this is true. Great post, Loren.

By: napalm

napalm — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:06:58 +0000

This USA Today story seems to indicate that there wasn't much doubt as to the animals being lions.

By: inbetween

inbetween — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:09:54 +0000

I see big problems with this story , the first being size , this animal is no larger then a common coyote, even if it were a lion ,any maned lion of that size would not be an adult thus no mane .Also the head is conveniently pointed away from the camera, it could be nothing more then a bit of fur thrown on the head , it is unlikely to the extreme that anyone shooting a lion with a mane would do anything to hide any part of it, they would photograph every possible view point.Next the alleged carcasses were destroyed ? Not likely , if you were to shoot an animal like an American maned lion then you would show everyone , it’s new and different , you wouldn’t just destroy the carcass, lastly , if you were to destroy the carcass how was it done , it is again unlikely they would build a big enough fire to destroy it which means burial , if it were burial then it could be easily dug up and had DNA extracted, I think this is nothing more then the most amateur of pranks

By: maeko

maeko — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:00:42 +0000

i don’t know why they would say they weren’t escapees or pets, other than there were no reports of anyone missing their african lion. it is likely the offender that had the illegal exotics wouldn’t report them as missing as he is likely to be depraved. nor would he come forward after the capture.

imo, the pictures are clearly of an african lion. the sexual dymophism displayed by the large mane is, by most indications, unique to modern african-sub lions. cave depictions of the european cave lion do not show large dark manes and the asiatic lion’s main is less pronounced. while the argument can be made that cave drawings may be females, i find, given the historical infatuation with the mane in later human art, that it would have been illustrated had it been present. i am of the belief that the big mane is a more recent evolutionary feature and would not be found with Panthera leo atrox unless developed in parallel.