Tsavo lions only ate 35 people
November 2nd, 2009
New research claims to show that the infamous Tsavo lions only ate 35 people and not 135 as previously believed. The lions have become famous as the worst man eaters in history as they terrorized a railroad camp in Kenya for nine months in 1898. Now an examination of the lion’s stomachs has revealed they were less prolific. More here
Books about the Tsavo lions
The Lions of Tsavo: Exploring the Legacy of Africa’s Notorious Man-Eaters
This book has received excellent reviews:
- Deftly written …Patterson’s book must now be considered the definitive Tsavo lion study. Patterson’s research at Chicago’s Field Museum and Tsavo National Park – the most important wildlife preserve in East Africa – have established him as one of the world’s leading experts on lions as well as an important conservationist’ – “Publishers Weekly”.
- ‘It was a great relief to find this wonderfully thorough, scientific, and hugely accurate tome …the thrill of so many new details (and newly found photos) put together in historical (Darwinian) biological and ecological perspective. – Peter Beard, Photographer, Naturalist, and Author of “The End of the Game”.’ More
And for a slightly lighter read there is Ghosts of Tsavo: Tracking the Mythic Lions of East Africa
From the bestselling Pulitzer Prize winner and National Book Award finalist, Phil Caputo, a riveting adventure travel narrative that tracks two scientists attempting to unlock the secrets of a unique breed of fierce, man-eating lions of eastern Africa. More