Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Olorkulurp

During a visit to the Maasai Mara in October/November 2022, I was privileged to spend some time following Olorkulurp, a magnificent male lion. Olorkulurp is a Maasai name which means, something to the effect of, ‘the one with the runny nose’. As you can see from this picture, he certainly lives up to his name, with mucus constantly dribbling from his right nostril. Despite his ‘less than flattering moniker’, Olorkulurp is a great hunter and somewhat of a ‘heartthrob’ in Maasai circles. He is well-loved by his pride, as well as by human fans all over the world. This vignetted picture was taken in the early morning while Olorkulurp was stalking a lioness who was in heat.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Kenya
Camera: Canon EOS R3
Copyright: © Vanessa Beadling