The Tiniest Tiger

Lion Guardians Give Each Lion a Maasai Name

Big Cat Cousins· African lions

 

 

Lions from the Lion Guardians Project

These 9 lions are from the Mara Predator Project Lion Database.

When you think of an African male lion, the image that enters your mind might be that of a cat with a large mane around his head and neck.  But did you know that manes can come in all shapes and sizes and that the mane can change dramatically with age, health and reproductive activity? A male’s mane is an indicator of his health and status in the pride and is dependent upon both genetics and ecological factors.

The Lion Mane is Used for Identifying Males

The mane is used for identifying males, but it is important to remember that the mane can change in appearance over time. Mane sizes are characterized into three categories.

African Male Lion Mane Sizes
image courtesy of www.livingwithlions.org

A Small or “mohawk” mane  will be just on the crest of the head, chest and cheeks. Light in color.

A Medium mane will be  longer on the head but does not quite reach the ears. Fuller on the chest and cheeks, but not on the shoulder.  The color is mostly brown.

A Large mane reaches or covers the ears, is very long covering the chest, cheeks and across the shoulder. The color is brown and often black.

Once Give a Collar The Lion is Given a Maasai Name

In order to learn more about the African lion, we need to understand the individuals and study their behavior and movement. One way to do this is to attach a radio collar to track their movement. Once a lion is given a collar, the Lion Guardians give the big cat a Maasai name.  This naming of each lion is one of my favorite things in the project because the name helps to emphasize the uniqueness of each lion and leads to increased awareness of the importance of each individual in the broader community.

The names usually reference either a physical characteristic of a behavior unique to that particular lion.  For example, one lion was given the name Sikiria, which means  “he of the donkey”. This name was given to him because he liked to eat donkeys. This name and telling of stories about him, helps diffuse the anger and retaliation from the Maasai when Sikiria goes looking for a donkey.  Now watchful eyes can keep Sikiria out of trouble and the donkeys safe by relaying messages about Sikiria’s location.

It is also much easier to forgive behavior when you know the name the lion and their unique traits.  Just like we can forgive our cats for doing naughty things. Like when Gracey would throw fig tree dirt and for retaliatory tinkling on my suitcase after coming home from a trip.

Lions With Maasai Names

Take a look now at the same 9 lions with their given names. Can you see the unique characteristics of each and every  lion. And each and every lion has its own “personality”  too. Are you inspired to choose a lion name for your cat?

I would love for you to tell me which lion caught your eye and why.

Remember to leave your comment here, below this post too!

 

Lion Guardians Lion's Names

 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Laura Davis says

    I keep coming back to Saruni.  I love the expression on his face, and his coloration.

  5. Elizabeth Flynn says

    They are all amazing. Each one is unique for one reason or another.  I think Clawed is the one that caught my eye the most. Unfortuantely, I think it is because he looks sad 🙁  Perhaps he just doesn’t like his name though.  I hope he really isn’t sad.

  6. jennie says

    i like kibe because his eyes look different from the rest and i think that makes him unique

  7. Janellm says

    Hmm, Saruni and Joshua look like what I think of when I think of lions. Kibe looks like a guy I sorted dated in college. They are all so gorgeous, but since I have to choose I pick Lesanju. I’m not really sure why, perhaps because of his white snout right below a stark black nose, his freckly looking complexion and his stand out eye brows (if that’s what that is.) It could be the direct gaze. As I look closer I can see the scratches on his nose and cheek. This makes me think he might be older and a great warrior lion. Yep, that’s the lion for me. What does Lesanju mean in Maasai?

  8. Amelia says

    First and foremost, I am drawn to Akiki. In his face, I see the evolution of our own endearing domesticated house cats. Clawed has an expression of knowing a juicy little secret or some joke and he’s waiting for the right moment to tell us. There is such a sense of regal in Saruni’s tilt of the head, you know he is king of the jungle. But, back to Akiki, there is only one thing on his mind: Dinner and you better hope you’re not it!

  9. Rose59saunders says

    The one who cot my eyes is Saruni.He`s so cute.I love the way his eyes look.It`s like he`s looking at you.But yet he`s really not looking at you.

  10. Sharon says

    Saruni caught my eye, he just looks like he has it all under control….Akiki looks like one you could just go up to and pet-so does Clawed….Saitoti looks hungry for ANYTHING!!….Kibe could care less….Romeo looks lovelorn….Lesanju is the stud….Joshua is posing….and Moswen is thinking, “Man I could have caught that Antelope if I wasn’t so lazy”….Hope you all enjoyed my thoughts!!??

  13. Charlotte Mead says

    Romeo is looking far into the distance and thinking very hard about something………food, tomorrow……just being?…..He seems at peace. They are all awesome!

  16. Rooroo1 says

    I like Kibe. There is something about not being able to see his eyes that reminds me of a sweet, wrinkled, old man.

  17. PetsWeekly says

    Lesanju and Joshua caught my eye – both so beautiful! Lesanju looks like hes quite a fighter!

  18. Janet Vandenabeele says

    I was immediately drawn to Saruni and Lesanju. Saruni just looks so dignified, like the kind leader and archetypal male lion, and Lesanju like the battle-scarred warrior with all the best stories to tell. Look at all those marks on his face!!