The Mara is still in mourning after legendary hunter, warrior, and leader of the Rongai Pride Lorkulup passed away following a hunt turned fatal.
Lorkulup, a lion worth his pride and of unmatched strength, was felled by an eland. His body was found near the beast’s carcass, marking his final hunt.
It is believed that he took on the eland alone and suffered a severe injury, rendering him weak and an easy prey to hyenas.
Elands, one of the largest antelopes in Africa, are not easy prey as they are strong, swift and will fight for their survival.
Before his tragic fall, Lorkulup had survived buffalo hunting, spear wounds and a venomous snake bite.
Born in 2017, Lorkulup, whose death was announced on February 1, was seven and a half years old, shy of eight when a lion’s prime starts to fade, but also a mark of resilience.
The Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) said a veterinary team and Maasai Mara rangers were on patrol when they found the carcasses of a lion and an eland, side by side.
“Preliminary observations suggest the fabled King of the Jungle successfully brought down the eland but sustained severe injuries in the process. Vulnerable and weakened, it likely fell victim to opportunistic hyenas, who seized the moment to kill the wounded lion and feed on both carcasses,” it said.
At the time, KWS said it was in the process of determining the identity of the lion.
“We are in the process of determining the identity of the lion. This discovery is a stark reminder of nature’s delicate balance—the relentless battle between predator and prey, the fleeting nature of dominance, and the unending circle of life in the wild,” KWS added.
During this period, people from across the globe have come together to honour the fallen king.
A number of articles and videos featuring Lorkulup have been posted, even as some animal and safari enthusiasts and conservationists were weighed down by denial of the tragedy.
Tiktokers posted videos of the lion walking in his majesty, where in some videos he is followed by tourists, guides and photographers.
Some explained the times they had witnessed the lion hunt and how he would lead his pack with fierce protectiveness.
Maasai Mara Cat’s Sightings took to X to mourn the king, reminiscing that on the “morning of 24/12/2024 I witnessed Lorkulup host a Christmas feast for Rongai Pride and Rongai Rockers, the Buffalo slayer the mighty Lorkulup was the strongest Lion I’ve ever seen. When a spear tore through his lower lip he came back strong and was mating two weeks after. RIP king”.
Lion lovers tweeted, “Totally heartbroken and devastated. Our mighty and dear dad of the Mara King Lorkulup is no longer with us. Mara will never be the same!!”
Wildlife photographer Kamalak Kannan BV shared that Lorkulup was pierced by the horn of the eland that went through his stomach and exited near his ribs.
“We will miss you Lorkulup forever – We are broken With deep sorrow, I must share that BRB Lorkulup is gone forever, leaving a profound void in our hearts,” Kannan added.
