Great glimpses of wildlife often reach the public thanks to the dedication and patience of wildlife photographers, who capture rare and beautiful moments from the animal kingdom. One such recent image has captured the internet's imagination, a stunning close-up of a male lion with a naturally curly mane, a sight rarely seen in the wild. The photo was taken by Kambiz Cameo Pourghanad, a pilot by profession and wildlife photographer by passion.
Watch the video here:
Shared on Instagram, the image features a lion named Nzuri - M6, known as the son of Olepolos and a former member of the Topi Pride in Kenya's Masai Mara. Nzuri is one of seven sub-male lions who have since separated from the pride.
The photo showcases Nzuri with a strikingly wavy, almost styled mane that looks more like a salon blowout than a typical wild lion's mane. Experts suggest that the curls could be due to a combination of genetics, high humidity, and a mane dried naturally after being soaked in rain, resulting in this unique appearance.
Pourghanad's caption praised the lion's distinctive beauty and confidently declared, "Mark my words, Nzuri currently is and will be one of the most beautiful lions in Masai Mara and he will be ranked in Africa along with Bon Jovi, King Moya, and Blondie."
The image has since gone viral, drawing admiration from wildlife enthusiasts and casual viewers alike, who were awed by nature's unexpected display of elegance.
Social media users couldn't stop gushing over the lion's unique curly mane. "His curls are so cute," wrote one user, while another joked, "Handsome boy! We've got a movie star here." A third commenter hoped for the lion's safety, saying, "What a beauty, hopefully the greedy hands of humans don't harm him. He must be protected." Another added, "He's one gorgeous lion, one of my favourites from the Mara."
