The Death of a King, by Larry Pannell
...We decided to try an area where we found a small herd of elephants the day before that was near a watering hole called Rabelias Dam near Orpen Camp. Upon arriving we notice a large male lion crouching on the shore.
...We decided to try an area where we found a small herd of elephants the day before that was near a watering hole called Rabelias Dam near Orpen Camp. Upon arriving we notice a large male lion crouching on the shore.
As our cameras clicked away you could see something was off,his posture just did not look right. On closer examination looking through the lens, his left hind leg was protruding and at a strange angle. After he had his fill of water he struggled to his feet hardly able to stand.
What you did not notice while he was drinking, he literally was nothing but skin and bones.
He slowly moved away from the water and staggered as if he was drunk towards a small rise. Every few steps he would stop to catch his breath, his head hanging low until he had enough energy to take a few more steps.
Upon reaching the rise he turned to face the water hole and began his slow descent to the ground. About halfway down he collapsed the rest of the way. It was evident he was in his last days if not his last hours on this earth.
As we continued to watch this once beautiful and strong lion a small herd of elephants arrived at the water's edge. The elephants drank, played squirting water into the air over themselves and others to cool down from the day's heat.
One of the larger elephants left the others and walked towards the rise not far from where the lion had collapsed as if to stand guard over the herd. At first, he did not notice the lion lying low in the grass about 30 yards away trying to stay out of sight.
Then in an instant, the elephant reared, ears outstretched and flapping as he took several steps back, trumpeted and charged the lion.
Upon hearing the elephant start his charge all the other elephants started to charge as well, trunks in the air trumpeting as the ran towards the lion.
Maybe in his younger, more virile days the lion would have tried to make a stand, at least roar at the top of his lungs. But not now, now it took every bit of energy he had to get to his feet turn and run.
After everything settled down Greg and I drove to find the lion. We found him lying in the grass, exhausted unable to move. We were no more than five feet from him as he lay dying in the shade of a tree.
Dropping my camera we stared at one another locking eyes for what seemed for an eternity. I just wanted him to know that he would not die alone as he struggled to breathe, his chest rising only every so often. Then a last twitch of an ear, his last breath, he was gone.
The King was dead.
Over the years as a photojournalist, I have photographed people that had lost everything in earthquakes, fires and landslides, people that had been injured, people that were dying,
but I have never photographed anything as sad as this majestic animal, the true king of the beasts and master of his domain.
I will never forget what I was so privileged to have witnessed.
Later we learned that the name of this noble lion was Skybed Scar. The lion was well known in the Kruger National Park where he roamed and ruled for many years. He lived free and he died free.
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