Kings Of The Past

Something a bit different here. The most inspirational animal in my eyes visiting plenty of zoos as a child was the lion. But not any lion, it was the male lions that always caught my attention. This page will once again have a very personal feel, even more so that a couple of these lions were the ones who inspired me when I was younger. These male lions really did help to capture my imagination and my love for these species as a whole.

Using myself as an example, the couple of lions that inspired me at the young age of eight were Romeo and Legs Diamond, lions who were resident at Woburn Safari Park up until 2002 and 2003 respectively. Now as part of my passion I continue to follow their line, and I am now five generations ahead, with Safina at Linton Zoo being the great grand-daughter of Legs Diamond. More is explained below in their profiles.

Lions are the only cats that differ so majorly in appearance. The main difference being the mane. It is their whole demina that gives them such a powerful majestic look that has inspired man kind since our origins in Africa. They have followed the modern era into architecture, art to film and musical theatre (through the lion king and other timeless films). 

But regardless of this, the lions we have today are still just as impressive, and all kings in their own right. So what is this purpose of this page? This page aims to list all male lions that have ever bred in the united kingdom. Generally in Safari Parks and a few zoos, not only does it give a background to the individual, but also vital breeding information. As there is generally one male lion fathering an entire generation (sometimes through a number of years of different litters) their genes are spread widely through the population, and through this information a pattern can emerge linking them all together.

Lion prides are constantly changing with a flowing out of new and old males each siring litters, through this dynamics are changed, pride females change and in the space of ten years, a whole new generation and make up of individuals is now present. A pride in my opinion is not a particular group of individuals, but an entire line of lions that change as time goes on.

So here we go, a look at the Kings of the past, some of you may just be able to put a memory to a face, as we go through those who are now just about forgotten. As always through my interest and attachment to the Woburn line of lions these will be the ones to take immediate entrance to this page, with other lions joining them as soon as I have enough information to add them. So as with most pages on the blog, it will be ongoing.

LEGS DIAMOND

6th November 1986 - 16th January 2003

Legs Diamond was a resident male born at Woburn Safari Park where he reigned till his death in 2003. It was Legs and his companion Romeo who really set my interest alight. Legs Diamonds descendants live throughout the United Kingdom and beyond, most recognisable for readers of this blog he is the great grandfather of Safina at Linton Zoo in Cambridge.

ROMEO

8th December 1986 - 21st November 2002. 

Romeo was a male lion born at Woburn Safari park where he reigned with his companion Legs Diamond. Unknown to me to have bred, his companion Legs Diamond sired many litters. The two were definately very close and reigned a good ten-twelve years at least.

ROMEO & LEGS DIAMOND 

This picture was taken in the last year of their reign in 2002 before they died, the pride was stable and peaceful, after their death, four of the pride females died and joined them. However the pride now lives on several generations below.

SLY

15th May 1995 - 2008

Sly was a male lion born at Knowsley Safari Park he was moved with his half brother Shane to Woburn Safari Park in 2003. Having started fighting to take other the Knowsley pride the death of Woburn's males allowed the perfect transition. Sly sired quite a few litters but was beaten up a fair bit by the older females when he joined as he did seem to have a very assertive personality and was definately the more dominant male. Sly died in 2008 leaving Shane to reign on his own. For all readers who are regular, Sly is the father of Riziki at Linton Zoo.

SHANE

16th July 1997 - July 2011

Shane was born at Knowsley Safari Park and is a half brother to the male lion Sly above, he was moved to Woburn Safari Park in order for them to have a pride of their own. Shane fathered many litters and between them, Sly and Shanes descendants live all through the UK and Europe. For those who are regular readers you will know of Karla at Linton Zoo, she was the part of the first litter sired by Shane. Shane died in 2011 having reigned successfully keeping his castrated sons in tow and out of trouble.

CHARLIE

1997 - March 2012

Charlie, unlike most of the other males on this page has no legacy living on through his descendants as he was a strictly non breeding male. Charlie lived at his birthplace of Longleat Safari Park with a group of cousins and siblings till he moved in 2009 to join his sister Connie at Newquay Zoo. Charlie was put down in March 2012 due to health problems. He may not have much of a legacy left in the population but as seen below he was a truly magnificent individual, a true lion of Longleat.

NEGUS

1987 - 11th January 2009

Negus was a male lion who lived at Blackpool Zoo since he was moved from the Chipperfields collection (I am unsure whether he was part of the circus or their safari park trade). He was a well known grumpy individual, who went to Blackpool to live in peace with two other lionesses. These lionesses had both died by the 2006 leaving Negus on his own. Company was then brought in from Blair Drummoned Safari Park in the form of three lionesses but even though mating occurred he was obviously past breeding age. Negus died at the superb age of twenty two and his magnificent demina will always be remembered.

FURTHER PROFILES OF LIONS ARE CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT, THIS PAGE WILL BE ONGOING...

Please keep checking

James