| One of the most distinct characteristics of the | | | | shout once. They listened for a second cry but it |
| African lion is its mane. The thick hair that grows | | | | was not forthcoming. Looking outside, someone saw |
| around the head of the male lions, is a unique identity | | | | an outline of some animal. |
| of its presence and signifies the state of health, age | | | | But consequent searches bore no fruit. When they |
| and sends a clear message to rivals about who is in | | | | found the riffle, her alarmed colleagues checked with |
| charge. It is thick and has black hair for the lions that | | | | the armoury, to find that it belonged to Judy who |
| are in their prime. The mane is truly the crown of the | | | | was on duty at the gate only a couple of minutes |
| king of the jungle. | | | | before. The alarm was sounded and a massive |
| Yet there exists a rare breed of lions that have | | | | search was undertaken. |
| males that do not have a mane. These lions are so | | | | They suspected a big cat, possibly a leopard or lion, |
| rare that minimal studies have been undertaken to | | | | but they were confused because both animals have |
| know about them. They are said to have an appetite | | | | been in this park for years and such a thing has |
| for human flesh. The photographs of the fallen two | | | | never been experienced..After a four hour intensive |
| man eaters of Tsavo taken by col J.H. Patterson | | | | search, one driver noticed a reflection in some |
| after shooting them is probably the best memory of | | | | bushes and circled the area again. He confirmed that |
| what the lions look like. There is every possibility that | | | | indeed the pair of eyes were those of the killer |
| that breed still exists, with the appetite for human | | | | animal. the bushes were sprayed with bullets and the |
| flesh very much maintained. | | | | beast killed. The body of Judy, lay there, with the |
| In Nakuru National park, there is a framed photogaph | | | | neck broken but largely untouched. The man eaters |
| of Judy, a game warden who fell victim to a man | | | | of Tsavo had returned to haunt mankind. |
| eater from Tsavo. Tsavo National park is the biggest | | | | One characteristic that was observed with those |
| park in Kenya. It is not fenced and animals can roam | | | | lions during the construction of the railway, was the |
| freely for thousands of kilometres with minimal | | | | dragging of their catch to the caves. They are |
| human interference. A couple of years ago, Kenya | | | | expert killers, snatching individuals from camps |
| Wildlife Services captured what was reported as a | | | | without the any hint from neighbours, with the only |
| troublesome lion and sent it to Nakuru National park | | | | confirmation coming during the morning roll |
| for rehabilitation. It happened that the animal was a | | | | call.Unexplained cases of drivers and loaders on the |
| maneless male. | | | | main Mombasa Nairobi highway disappearing while |
| With abundance of grazing game, and with other | | | | attempting to change spare wheels have been |
| several prides of lions in the park, the lion should be | | | | reported. |
| okay. Nothing could have been further from the truth. | | | | With the vastness of the Tsavo, we probably have |
| After only a couple of days, the lion struck to show | | | | man eaters that live entirely on human flesh, getting |
| its true kind. Judy was on duty at the main gate that | | | | their prey from poachers who cant keep their fingers |
| evening. Around 7.00 p.m. she decided to go back to | | | | off the park, but whose families cant report to the |
| the camp for a sweater. She informed her colleagues | | | | authorities for fear of retribution. Whether the man |
| accordingly and set out to the camp. The camp is | | | | eaters of Tsavo will come back in big numbers and |
| only about one hundred metres from the gate. | | | | spread to other areas in Kenya, brings forth a chilling |
| Without her knowledge, Judy had company. She had | | | | thought considering their excellence in execution of |
| her riffle at hand and was able to go all the way to | | | | the hunt. |
| the camp. At the camp, neighbours heard someone | | | | |