Majestic Lion Has A Bad Hair Day, And It's Hilarious

Doesn't look very royal, which is surprisingly relatable.

Damjan

• Published in Animal Stories
• March 9, 2022

Everyone expects the king of the jungle to look like royalty, but even lions can have a terrible day at work, and judging by his mane, he must have had a rough night. A wildlife photographer captured the amusing scene on camera, and people can't stop grinning when they see the photos.

Tonga, one of the 77 lions who reside in the Glen Garriff Conservation, a wildlife park near Harrismith, South Africa, epitomizes grandeur. This time, however, he is far from majestic.

The big male has just awoken, and his formerly magnificent mane now appears to require the services of a hairstylist. Simon Needham, a wildlife photographer, was in the right spot at the right time to capture the disheveled lion on camera!

“I had to wait for Tonga to wake up from his nap but when he did he looked completely out of it so I had to capture that moment,” Simon explained. “I had to laugh, he looked dazed and confused for a second before he shook himself off.”

This isn't the first time the British photographer has captured the people of Glen Garriff Conservation. Needham hopes to raise awareness about the plight of African lions in the wild through his work.

This is Tonga

“I shoot for many wildlife charities, this image was shot for GG Conservation in South Africa to help them promote themselves for fundraisers,” Simon said.

”I’m really happy to be part of bringing well-deserved attention to a very worthy cause at GG Conservation Glen Garriff where they have 77 lions in their care. People love to see lions but when it’s one that is in need of a serious haircut it certainly draws loving empathy and a giggle from people.”

one of the 77 lions who reside in the Glen Garriff Conservation, a wildlife park near Harrismith, South Africa

Lions (Panthera leo) have suffered a catastrophic fall and are on the verge of extinction in all but the largest and best-managed protected areas. Despite being synonymous with untamed Africa. Lions are found in just  27 African and one Asian country, and only seven of them are known to have more than 1,000 lions.

In the last 100 years, lions have vanished from almost 80% of their historic range. More than 200,000 wild lions roamed Africa more than a century ago.

According to recent assessments, the number of lions has decreased from around 30,000 to around 20,000 in the previous two decades.

And he is having a bad hair day

The photo was captured by Simon Needham, a wildlife photographer

Lions can be found in a variety of big, well-managed protected areas in Africa. In East and Southern Africa, most range governments have infrastructure that facilitates wildlife tourism, and lions contribute major monetary flow for park administration and local communities, as well as providing a strong incentive for wildland conservation.

Glen Garriff Conservation is one of the few areas left where "the majestic lions are still loved, protected, and preserved." If you want to help them, you can find more information here.

Damjan