Unity - This photo won Photo of the Month on the BushWarriors site. Check out the pix there...they are all amazing.

http://bushwarriors.wordpress.com/april-2010-photo-of-the-month/

http://bushwarriors.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/bush-warriors-photo-of-the-day-oct1-2010african-lion-pair-by-juanita-trollip/

Studies have shown that lionesses tend to select mates based on their mane.  The darker and more dense the male’s mane, the better chance he has of being selected to mate with.  It appears the color and density of a lion’s mane is indicative of his health.  University of Michigan veteran lion researcher, Craig Packer, explains, “If a male goes through a rough period, his mane becomes lighter. If he becomes better nourished or lives in a different habitat, his mane may get a lot darker.”