A stunning image shows a proud lion standing atop a hill of bones, surveying its “kingdom” within a reserve in South Africa, reminiscent of a Hollywood movie poster.
With its power, agility, and bloodthirstiness, the lion is often referred to as the King of the Jungle. Simon Neeham, a photographer from Leeds, England, captured the incredible moment of a proud lion standing on a hill surrounded by bones, perfectly embodying its “king of the jungle” persona.
Proud lion standing on a hill of bones gazing at its kingdom.
The impressive photograph showcases a 227 kg male lion perched atop a mountain of animal carcasses as it surveys its “kingdom” in the sunlight behind. Male lions are always striking, easily distinguished by their thick manes, which serve as a powerful symbol and weapon for attracting mates.
In a moment captured by Neeham, both a female and male lion are seen sniffing around the area of animal remains, searching for any leftover meat.
Simon Neeham recorded these breathtaking sights during his visit to the GG Wildlife Reserve and Lion Sanctuary in South Africa. The 51-year-old was positioned just over 9 meters away from the powerful ‘monsters’ and used a Canon 1DX Mark II camera to capture every moment of his trip.
Many believe it will take a long time to find another lion photograph more beautiful than the one Simon Neeham took, resembling a scene from a Hollywood cartoon.
Male and female lions searching for food in the reserve in South Africa.
Simon Neeham shared: “I have great admiration for the king of lions. During this trip, I saw them standing over an area concentrated with animal remains. One morning, I decided to go there and was fortunate to capture an image of a male lion standing at the top of the hill. It stood there for more than a minute, and I quickly snapped several amazing photos before it moved on. People interpret the image in many ways, but to me, it looks like a scene of a proud lion king surveying his surrounding land.”
Lions tend to hunt medium-sized prey, including antelopes, wildebeests, and zebras. They are carnivorous, with a male lion estimated to consume up to 15% of its body weight. On average, a male lion eats about 5.4 kg of food per day.
