The aging lion no longer had a pride (Picture: Larry Pannell/Caters)
The lion, known as Skybed Scar, used to lead a pride but had been pushed out from the protection and food his family used to provide.
Photographer Larry Anthony Pannell, 64, watched him for hours before he died, saying he knew he was ‘witnessing something very special – the real nature both life and death’.
Once an apex predator, the elderly lion was being chased by an elephant and appeared weak and starving.
He was pictured being chased by an elephant (Picture: Larry Pannell/Caters)
Larry, from California, US, said: ‘Life can be very cruel and to be honest during my career I have seen people lose everything in landslides, earthquakes and fires. I have photographed automobile accidents with grave injuries.
‘I do not think any photograph or photo sequence affected me as much as witnessing the death of the lion.
‘I sat with him only feet away, locking eyes and staring at one another as I watched for an hour as the life left his body. I wanted him to know he would not die alone.
‘I do not think any photograph affected me as much as witnessing the death of the lion.’ (Picture: Larry Pannell/Caters)
‘Not wanting to sound crass but I remember when my grandmother was in the hospital and I visited her for the last time the night she passed.
‘We did not say a word, both of us just knew this was the end and we just stared at each other locking eyes.
‘This is the first time since then that I felt the same feeling – connecting with another being on a spiritual level, just knowing.’
Larry describes how he watched the lion take his last drink from a watering hole before the lion staggered away, just ‘skin and bones’.
He walked as if drunk, Larry says, trying to catch his breath every few steps, before finally collapsing to the ground.
Larry stayed with the lion as he took his last breath. ‘I just wanted him to know that he would not die alone,’ he said.
‘Then, as last twitch of an hear, his last breath, he was gone. The King was dead.’