Lorkulup was a lion who lived in Kenya’s Maasai Mara wildlife reserve. The name Lorkulup means "runny nose" in Swahili. The lion's distinctive disheveled look came from the fact that he had a hole in his palate that made drinking difficult. He wasn't a dominant male as we think of the term, but the lionesses of his pride loved him. He was a mighty hunter who made sure his pride ate before he did, and he was gentle and attentive with the cubs. Lorkulup became a viral sensation in China, where he is called Quan Quan, loosely translated as "radio collar." Hundreds of fans began following Lorkulup and his pride via internet.
In February, the news came that Lorkulup was dead. His head was severed from his body, supposedly by animal scavengers, although some believe he was killed by a human. The outcry from his fans in China was immediate. They have donated money for an investigation into Lorkulup's death, and for publicity to demand justice for the lion. Read about the unfortunate lion and his fans' response at Sixth Tone.
-via Nag on the Lake