Unique Characteristics of Special Rastafarian Lion

Rastafarian is not only synonymous with Jamaica, Bob Marley and reggae music. Lion in the Addis Ababa Zoo in Ethiopia was also synonymous with rastafarian. The lion had a large dark mane that reaches to his chest and abdomen, a large mane is not found in other types of lions in Africa.

There are 15 descendants of those lions currently at the Addis Ababa Zoo and DNA tests showed that the big cats make up a genetically distinct population. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Not just a different mane. Recent research suggests that the gene is also different rastafarian lion with other lions. "Gen lion at the zoo is very unique," said Susann Bruche, scientists from Imperial College London, UK, who led the study, Friday, October 12, 2012. Bruche and her colleagues studied the DNA lions are descendants of lions that once collected Haile Selassie, the last Emperor of Ethiopia who inspire rastafarian movement.

The late emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, established the zoo in 1948 with seven founder lions (five males and two females). (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Male lions at the zoo was considered the last lions have manes thick and dark. It has previously been suggested that no lions comparable to those at Addis Ababa Zoo still exist in the wild, mainly due to hunting for their mane. However, the researchers say that according to the Ethiopian authorities, lions with a similar appearance to those at Addis Ababa Zoo still exist in the east and north-east of the country, notably in the Babille Elephant Sanctuary near Harar and southwards to Hararghe. "We've received reports of several sightings of lions with similar characteristics in the eastern and northeastern Ethiopia," she said. The researchers said field surveys could confirm those reports. More urgently, a captive breeding program at the zoo could ensure that the tiny population doesn't die out.

"A great amount of genetic diversity in lions has most likely already been lost, largely due to human influences," Bruche said in a statement. "Every effort should be made to preserve as much of the lion's genetic heritage as possible. We hope field surveys will identify wild relatives of the unique Addis Ababa Zoo lions in the future, but conserving the captive population is a crucial first step." *** [LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4026]

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