Episode details

World Service,6 mins
Lion who was 'king' of the Serengeti 'had no chance' against rivals
Focus on AfricaAvailable for over a year
It has been talked about as 'a coup' and for days, the incident in the Serengeti in northern Tanzania, has been a trending story. Bob Junior, dubbed 'king of the Serengeti' and also known as Snyggve, was killed by three younger rivals in a battle for dominance over territory. Although not an unusual occurrence amongst lions, his death sparked a flurry of heart-felt messages on social media with crying and broken hearts emojis. Many people also posted their memories of seeing the majestic animal with its distinctive black mane on visits to the National Park. A video of the fierce attack was also posted online. Professor Craig Packer is an American biologist, zoologist, and ecologist chiefly known for his research on lions in Serengeti National Park. His book, entitled The Lion: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation of an Iconic Species, is due to be published soon. He spoke to Focus on Africa's Victoria Uwonkunda about the way such attacks are co-ordinated and says even though Bob Junior was impressive, a targeted lion on its own would have "no chance". (Photo: Bob Junior: The lion dubbed 'king' of the Serengeti. Credit: Rajabu Hussein.)
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