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Subject: Re: The Lions of Tsavo From: Gerry Bacon posted Mon, Nov 2 2009, 7:37pm  I don't think the Tsavo lions were thought to be a separate species, but it seems to me that there was something about the habitat there that caused them to behave slightly different. Unfortunately, I can not remember where I heard or read it. Maybe a Google search could help you out. Subject: Re: The Lions of Tsavo From: kittenz posted Tue, Nov 3 2009, 12:56pm  One theory that has been advanced is that the Tsavo region is so barren and arid that much of the water supply is brackish from accumulated alkaline deposits, and that that causes behavioral changes in the lions of the region. A similar suggestion has been put forth about the Sunderbans region of India: that all the water is brackish, salty water and that the alkalinity causes some sort of behavioral changes that induce preadtion on humans by healthy tigers. I don't buy it for either region though. I think the predation on humans is cultural in the sense that lions (and tigers too) learn such behavior from others of their kind. They are brought up to it. Whether the alkaline water causes lack of manes, I doubt also. At various points in history and prehistory, other maneless types of lions have existed. One possibility is that, with the intense hunting of lions for trophies over the last century and a half, many of the males with large manes were killed for trophies, leaving sparser-maned males more opportunity to reproduce. Subject: Re: The Lions of Tsavo From: kittenz posted Tue, Nov 3 2009, 12:58pm  There was a really good National Geographic magazine article on the lions of Tsavo not too long ago, maybe last summer? or thereabout Subject: Re: The Lions of Tsavo From: badger man posted Tue, Nov 3 2009, 6:50pm  I read an article (I forget where) that said that the lions are maneless because the Tsavo region is so hot and dry. Having a mane would be like wearing a hat and scarf. Subject: Re: The Lions of Tsavo From: Andromache posted Tue, Nov 3 2009, 6:55pm  I think that your poacher-enabled selection theory hits the nail pretty square on the head.Very probable.

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