On June 11th 2021 the magnificent male Lion known as Scarface died in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. On July 22nd 2011, in the late afternoon fading light four young male Lions were eating a wildeebest. My first encounter with a special Lion, Scarface. When we saw him with my guests we immediately realized we were in the presence of greatness. His fresh open scar was a red beacon in the falling darkness. That particular evening four other slightly younger males were nearby. I don’t know which of the two coalitions actually made the kill. But as the younger ones dared to approach Scarface turned towards them and charged. There was a quick quarrel in the dust, of which I captured only the final scenes with a very slow shutter speed, where the other Lion is submissive to Scar. From there the coalition moved to the Musiara Marsh and by October 2011 they had taken control of that prime territory. Scar’s kingdom had truly begun. Almost ten years later Scar exhaled his last breath today. His soul will live on in the Mara.
