A tough reminder of the cruel but necessary cycle of life. Rest in peace. "On the morning of the 12th of October, the Guernsey male was seen mating with another Avoca Female, and one of the six Black Dam males was also in the area. The Monwana male was nowhere to be seen. I then saw a spotted hyena running with a male lion's paw in its mouth! I went to the Timbavati River and found the carcass of a male lion. It took a few days of image comparison and monitoring to get a full confirmation that it was, sadly, the Monwana Male" - a recollection from Royal Malewane guide, @b.davis.wildlife. It is believed that the Monwana male was killed by the Black Dam males the previous night over territory and mating rights. What will this mean for his coalition partner, the Guernsey male? It is only a matter of time before he is chased away, or meets a similar fate. The lions of Royal Malewane have a notorious history and the rise and fall of various leaders and prides have been watched and will be followed closely over the years to come. __________ Image by @juanpinto2014 📸 #southafrica #lion #lionpride #greaterkruger #rip #royalmalewane