The cycle of life repeats itself over and over again, that saying «as you see me, you will see yourself» is not a warning about aging at all, but about the growth and wisdom that is acquired over the years. It is up to each one to accept the experience as an ally on the path of life and then an atmosphere of peace is created around. Such an atmosphere is what these photographs taken by Leighton Lum give off, who on her trip through Kenya came across the oldest lion of those lands and captivated by the wisdom in her eyes, he decided to capture that scene in beautiful snapshots.
Leighton Lum is a photographer of the wild, he is used to being surrounded by wild creatures living their freedom in the most authentic way. While on a trip to Kenya, he came across a true legend from that place. A lion that has managed to survive more than 14 years in the maasai mara national reserve. That site is a true treasure of life, with large populations of elephants, cheetahs, giraffes and also lions.
Morani, the oldest lion in Kenya
But among all the big cats, there is one that stands out for being the oldest of all and giving off an aura of wisdom through its face. Lum was lucky enough to come face to face with morani, the lion that at some point completely ruled the savannah that covers The Mara. With his imposing size and remarkable leadership he took it upon himself to lead his pack through the dangers of the wild.
Leighton Lum
However, in this life everything has an expiration date and now Morani lives a solitary life as the oldest lion in all of Kenya. Those in charge of caring for the reserve have said that Morani showed his leadership skills from a very young age. He was born into a pride of four lions, but soon stood out among his brothers and in his heyday, he became the king of the jungle. He has now withdrawn from that life, since his body visibly shows the signs of aging, although his gaze is charged with wisdom.
Leighton Lum
the retirement of a king
At 14 years old, Morani is currently the oldest lion in the entire Kenyan reserve after the death of Scarface in early 2021. The experience of having fought great battles can be seen on his body, which is why Lum decided to capture the great power that one day completely ruled his pack. Through a series of photographs, he shows us the life of Morani who, as a retired lion, sleeps about 20 hours a day. Also, he is no longer part of his pack, as younger members have banished him.
Leighton Lum
«Just by looking at his face you can sense that he has lived a lot,» explains the photographer himself. «He has gone from a stallion and young pack leader, a king, to a retired old man still fighting for his survival in The Mara.»
The photographs show us the inevitable cycle of life, which gives us experience through the years, to later retire in peace and accept fate as a great friend.
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