F
Field Ethos
Guest
By Chad Adams
We of the gun of a certain age, when we hear the name “Scarface,” we most undoubtably and immediately think of the fictional Tony Montana. A mound of Yayo and his “little friend,” a Colt AR-15 with an alleged M-203 affixed, Scarface goes out on a pile of brass, a romanticized ending only an anti-gun Hollywood could deliver.
A cult hero, fictional though he may be, Tony Montana’s character borrows heavily from gangsters ranging from Al Capone to Cuban coke dealers of the ‘80s. His spirit touches on that very fine thread of manliness, this one a life of criminal enterprise to be sure, but an element of pure badassery nonetheless.
But there’s another Scarface that was even more of a qualified, legit badass. He remains quite possibly the most dominant male lion known to ever live.
Scarface roamed the Masai Mara, Kenya’s famed game reserve teeming with wildlife and home to every species of the iconic “Big Five.” When one conjures up classical images of Africa, those visions most assuredly come from this massive sanctuary that runs contiguous with Tanzania’s Serengeti. This is Hemingway’s Africa in its fullest grandeur.
And it’s here where Scarface ruled for an incomparable 14 years or more.
Scarface appeared to step into the veldt straight out of central casting. Sporting a black widow’s peak and windswept mane, he struck a fierce pose. A massive cat, believed to weigh in around 400 pounds in his prime, Scarface took his name from what made him legend—from battle. Believed to be the result of fighting over hunting grounds, Scarface received a wicked scar over his right eye and face. But this tell-tale mark only signaled the beginning of his legend.
Kenya’s Masai Mara
Scarface, or Scar, alongside three brothers, formed a coalition of cats that ruled a massive 400-square-mile territory of African bush. Together with Morani, Sikio, and Hunter, they formed the “Four Musketeers.” They reportedly hunted the grounds with impunity, defending their lands against all rival prides and other threats. In essence, Scarface became the true Lion King.
His fighting exploits, along with the Musketeers, made him a legend in his own time. Reports claim he defended his territory against 130 rival lions, killing them all, never once losing a battle. Legend has it the pride killed upward of 400 hyenas as well. Are those numbers accurate? Who knows, but as they say, print the legend.
His dominance and incredibly striking, fierce look made the lion completely recognizable and famous worldwide. Tourists flocked to the Masai Mara to see him. Wildlife photographers and videographers chronicled his life for a decade. The duration and absoluteness of Scarface’s reign—so boldly unique—set him apart.
Only adding to the legend, fittingly, would be Scarface’s death as well. Most old animals, lions included, don’t die well in the African bush. They either fall as prey, or in the case of lions, many times younger, newly established Alphas strike down the old guard.
But not Scarface. He ruled well past the average span most male lions serve as king of a pride. And at the estimated age of 14, Scarface finally began to fade unto his own end. But he would not fall to a new Alpha. No clan of hyenas would take down the legend. Instead, he defiantly shocked the animal world one last time.
In the end, Scarface drug himself miles through the Mara toward his ancestorial territory, near where he was born. In the final days, a trio of young, ferocious young male lions reportedly came upon Scarface. But they never attacked, even as Scarface snarled at them. Instead, Scarface simply laid down to rest on June 11, 2021, peacefully crossing over into the mbingu.
“With its death, the Mara has lost yet another iconic lion,” said the Nation newspaper upon Scarface’s passing.
Scarface lives on, his legend going viral now and again on social media, the fierce photos and lengthy documentaries rekindling our imagination. Even in death, for those spellbound by the Dark Continent, Scarface remains.
Scarface. The most legendary Alpha lion ever to rule the African plains.
The post Legend of Scarface: The Most Badass Lion to Ever Live appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
We of the gun of a certain age, when we hear the name “Scarface,” we most undoubtably and immediately think of the fictional Tony Montana. A mound of Yayo and his “little friend,” a Colt AR-15 with an alleged M-203 affixed, Scarface goes out on a pile of brass, a romanticized ending only an anti-gun Hollywood could deliver.
A cult hero, fictional though he may be, Tony Montana’s character borrows heavily from gangsters ranging from Al Capone to Cuban coke dealers of the ‘80s. His spirit touches on that very fine thread of manliness, this one a life of criminal enterprise to be sure, but an element of pure badassery nonetheless.
But there’s another Scarface that was even more of a qualified, legit badass. He remains quite possibly the most dominant male lion known to ever live.
The Legend of Scarface
Scarface roamed the Masai Mara, Kenya’s famed game reserve teeming with wildlife and home to every species of the iconic “Big Five.” When one conjures up classical images of Africa, those visions most assuredly come from this massive sanctuary that runs contiguous with Tanzania’s Serengeti. This is Hemingway’s Africa in its fullest grandeur.
And it’s here where Scarface ruled for an incomparable 14 years or more.
Scarface appeared to step into the veldt straight out of central casting. Sporting a black widow’s peak and windswept mane, he struck a fierce pose. A massive cat, believed to weigh in around 400 pounds in his prime, Scarface took his name from what made him legend—from battle. Believed to be the result of fighting over hunting grounds, Scarface received a wicked scar over his right eye and face. But this tell-tale mark only signaled the beginning of his legend.
Kenya’s Masai Mara
Scarface, or Scar, alongside three brothers, formed a coalition of cats that ruled a massive 400-square-mile territory of African bush. Together with Morani, Sikio, and Hunter, they formed the “Four Musketeers.” They reportedly hunted the grounds with impunity, defending their lands against all rival prides and other threats. In essence, Scarface became the true Lion King.
His fighting exploits, along with the Musketeers, made him a legend in his own time. Reports claim he defended his territory against 130 rival lions, killing them all, never once losing a battle. Legend has it the pride killed upward of 400 hyenas as well. Are those numbers accurate? Who knows, but as they say, print the legend.
His dominance and incredibly striking, fierce look made the lion completely recognizable and famous worldwide. Tourists flocked to the Masai Mara to see him. Wildlife photographers and videographers chronicled his life for a decade. The duration and absoluteness of Scarface’s reign—so boldly unique—set him apart.
A Good Death
Only adding to the legend, fittingly, would be Scarface’s death as well. Most old animals, lions included, don’t die well in the African bush. They either fall as prey, or in the case of lions, many times younger, newly established Alphas strike down the old guard.
But not Scarface. He ruled well past the average span most male lions serve as king of a pride. And at the estimated age of 14, Scarface finally began to fade unto his own end. But he would not fall to a new Alpha. No clan of hyenas would take down the legend. Instead, he defiantly shocked the animal world one last time.
In the end, Scarface drug himself miles through the Mara toward his ancestorial territory, near where he was born. In the final days, a trio of young, ferocious young male lions reportedly came upon Scarface. But they never attacked, even as Scarface snarled at them. Instead, Scarface simply laid down to rest on June 11, 2021, peacefully crossing over into the mbingu.
“With its death, the Mara has lost yet another iconic lion,” said the Nation newspaper upon Scarface’s passing.
Scarface lives on, his legend going viral now and again on social media, the fierce photos and lengthy documentaries rekindling our imagination. Even in death, for those spellbound by the Dark Continent, Scarface remains.
Scarface. The most legendary Alpha lion ever to rule the African plains.
The post Legend of Scarface: The Most Badass Lion to Ever Live appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
