r/interesting 25d ago

NATURE Scarface the lion, responsible for the deaths of 130 rival lions and up to 400 hyenas.

Post image

The name scarface comes from his iconic scar on his right eye that came from a territorial takeover in 2011. He remained an alpha for almost 10 years, dying in 2021 of natural causes.

56.8k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

u/AutoModerator 25d ago

Hello u/ChrisPeacock_! Please review the sub rules if you haven't already. (This is an automatic reminder message left on all new posts)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

3.2k

u/KlingonPrime300 25d ago

Looks like a movie villain

1.5k

u/LoggerRhythms 25d ago

I think that is a movie villain.

627

u/-GoodNewsEveryone 25d ago

No because at the end of the movie this lion would be the winner. Simba would be Simbwasn't.

313

u/Blckson 25d ago

This dude actually looks like he'd be Mufasa's brother.

151

u/RAMS_II 25d ago

On steroids

178

u/Blckson 25d ago

Hakuna Anabolika

10

u/AlcibiadesTheCat 25d ago

He has a wife you know...

6

u/RavenclawTruly 24d ago

Incontinentia… Incontinentia Lioness

→ More replies (1)

40

u/RAMS_II 25d ago

Hakuna culrtatta

47

u/funktion 25d ago

It means no leg days

35

u/BobJoeBlo 25d ago

It means all leg days

→ More replies (1)

16

u/EternalGunplaWorks 25d ago

Anabolika what?!!! 🤣

25

u/SourceMountain561 25d ago

🎶 Its means his testicles shrunk for the rest of his daaayyssss 🎶

11

u/DecentHawk9850 25d ago

A no Balls Sumamabisshh would be pransin round being flamboyant n shiiish
N not look like this Hellbound Demon Hellcat Grunt!!

4

u/Still-Puma 25d ago

;D where mfs come up with this from. Anabolika ;D

5

u/SteadyStrike29 25d ago

HaCreatina Peptida

14

u/ConsistentYou4629 25d ago

A lions mane color and size is directly tied to their testosterone, so dude is definitely juiced.

→ More replies (1)

25

u/Bazooka_no 25d ago

Thinking back on it, you would expect Mufasa's brother to be amazing, even if not on par with the legendary king. We don't actually know how strong Scar was objectively, just in comparison to Mufasa (the GOAT) and his son (who was basically the Kobe to Mufasa's MJ).

It's possible that Scar was also plenty strong, just not in comparison to them. That's why he was still able to corral all the hyenas and retain control of Pride Rock for a decade, even through a devastating draught.

14

u/unshavedmouse 25d ago

The sequel series established he had super powers. God I wish I was joking.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

19

u/Worst-Lobster 25d ago

They could call him scar even

7

u/Putrid_Principle_660 25d ago

Mr. Scar to you and everyone else.

18

u/Key_Golf_5462 25d ago

Looks like the evil brother of Scar

→ More replies (1)

6

u/Aishimorph_Frontiers 25d ago

Honestly would’ve been awesome to see this in original live action one

5

u/IcyLion2939 25d ago

Live Action Films That Never Needed To Be A Live Action Film.

5

u/Exact-Potential1673 25d ago

Scar in lion king was not a fighter by his own admission . He got the hyenas to do his work , unlike this one

→ More replies (1)

4

u/lloud_plants4629 25d ago

So.... Scar?

3

u/-SimpleDelight- 25d ago

Mufasa wouldn’t have made it to adulthood

→ More replies (8)

3

u/havokgogeta 25d ago

Simbain't

2

u/Aurius3D 25d ago

He was actually the leader of an invading legion of lions and simba had to set off a rocket and smother them in an avalanche to keep them from sneakily ambushing his pride when they weren't expecting it... oh wait....

2

u/UnicornMeatball 25d ago

Nah, this is the low budget slasher film remake, The Lion King of the Undead: Mufasa’s Return

2

u/ThinkSharp 25d ago

Simbacouldn’tpossibly

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (13)

25

u/AJ_Deadshow 25d ago

The evilness of Scar combined with the badassery of Scarface

3

u/DukeOfGeek 25d ago

Impressive KDR to be sure.

2

u/EternalGunplaWorks 25d ago

Gave it a little friend 😜

3

u/Doppe1herz 25d ago

He killed Darth Vader

3

u/CorruptHeadModerator 25d ago

Loved him in the Ghost and the Darkness... showed a lot of range

→ More replies (13)

102

u/JacobDCRoss 25d ago

He is literally the most legendary real lion in history.This lion was a true king.

52

u/TenaceErbaccia 25d ago

He had a k/d of over 130/1. That’s astounding and horrific.

72

u/jarnizivy 25d ago

Even then he died of old age, not taken out.

54

u/DrexlAU 25d ago

Which in the wild is the biggest win

→ More replies (1)

50

u/AdamsMelodyMachine 25d ago

Plus 400 hyenas, apparently. And they don’t fight 1-on-1.

24

u/PanchoPanoch 25d ago

That’s like killing an NPC or the wild animals for XP

16

u/IllAd2792 25d ago

Spent his days grinding in between real battles

3

u/mktcrasher 25d ago

He be looting

11

u/Horror_Chipmunk3580 25d ago

Those are just the confirmed kills.

2

u/ptear 22d ago

Was playing on hardcore 

19

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[deleted]

5

u/Various-Elk-5741 24d ago

Lol he looks so much more friendly in those pictures. Just a chill dude you could hang with, missing an eye.

4

u/Glitter_jellyfish 24d ago

Much better actually. Thank you. A real king. 👑

2

u/TheFinalCalls 23d ago

nah son thats still tuff

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (2)

45

u/stopped_watch 25d ago

Looks like the protagonist of a video game.

Far Cry: Lion Age.

27

u/Adventurous-Tie-7861 25d ago

More like antagonist to me.

Your a young lion and theres a prophecy that says a young lion like you will become the ruler of all prides so this lion is offing all the young lions.

Hes got lieutenant lions in all the prides and you've gotta liberate the prides one by one by killing the lieutenant lions and their minions.

You then burn down scarfaces opium farm that he uses to get all the lions hooked and docile. A song from skrillex plays in rhe background.

A bunch of folks join your new religious lion pride with you has the foretold leader.

Finally you face off against scarface with your rebel army.

You can get an alternative ending where your lioness girlfriend claws you to death while you fuck so that way you rule not just the lion pride on earth but the ones in the afterlife too as a lion messiah. She then gives birth to your prophet lion child and they rule with an iron claw in the wake of your passing and force others to worship you as they all think youve acended to godhood.

11

u/999BusinessCard 25d ago

God of War: Lion Age

5

u/Dornenkraehe 25d ago

Did you just make up lion watership down?

3

u/Adventurous-Tie-7861 25d ago

In my mind i was mixing jesus, far cry 3 and lions.

But watership down was also a favorite of mine so theres a damn good chance it got blended in as well.

If anyone wants to make it, my only request is that its badass. No need for credit.

3

u/Djrhskr 25d ago

Alternatively you can just wait 15 minutes alone in the den and enjoy the hunted zebra. After that Scarface will take you to get icecream.

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (2)

9

u/bateen618 25d ago

Dude that's Scar. That is literally Scar

→ More replies (2)

5

u/KnowsIittle 25d ago

It's interesting that scar was actually the "royal" heir and it was Mufasa that usurped the throne as the invader male to their territory. Something that actually happens in nature and helps keep diverse genetics.

→ More replies (31)

1.3k

u/Sorry-Climate-7982 25d ago

That image would make one heckuva album cover.

159

u/lollipop1233a 25d ago

92

u/pmst 25d ago

44

u/Ready_Mistake812 25d ago

Banned sub💀

15

u/scricimm 25d ago

Why?🤣🤣

20

u/Ready_Mistake812 25d ago

I don't want to think as for why😭

6

u/Iamnobody-0411 25d ago

unmoderated or smt

→ More replies (1)

9

u/Weekly-Benefit6075 25d ago

Uhh.. I’m not sure which way you meant

→ More replies (5)

4

u/Time-Excitement8443 25d ago

This is why I love Reddit (joined)

53

u/thoak74 25d ago

Or an avatar photo for various sites! Gaming and whatnot.

5

u/CyberZen0 25d ago

Already is, Leo Vegas

10

u/CrypticMemoir 25d ago

The band Miss May I have a lot of lions on their cover

8

u/random_nohbdy 25d ago

The music contained within would play in the lifted pickup trucks of divorced dads for decades to come.

3

u/jonbodhi 25d ago

Okay, so that was what was floating in the back of my mind!

3

u/H0esAintLoyal 25d ago

One helluva fighter

→ More replies (11)

513

u/TraditionalClub6337 25d ago

People keep fluctuating these numbers

218

u/weegamer 25d ago

Right? Who are tallying every kills

200

u/EfficiencyUnited6804 25d ago

There was a guy walking beside him for every one of these kills with a clipboard. /s

75

u/firstbreathOOC 25d ago

Should have been 467 but many of them were discounted by the International Lions Killing Hyenas Association, aka LKHA

38

u/Horror_Chipmunk3580 25d ago

Don’t forget all the ones who escaped the fight but ultimately died later. According to the Justice for Hyenas Killed by Lions (JHKL) nonprofit organization, the numbers are significantly higher.

8

u/Immediate_Home6426 25d ago

Don't forget the International Lions Killing Hyenas PEOPLE's association.

...and the Peoples Association of International Lions Killing Hyenas.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Own_Preference_8103 25d ago

The lesser known offshoot of the "lions eating peoples faces" party.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

10

u/bactate 25d ago

The true number might be unimaginable…

3

u/SuperCruisePanther 25d ago

The guy who did his portrait, presumably.

3

u/Realistic-Wish-681 25d ago

His management.

2

u/DaddyTuesday 25d ago

He's managed by Don King.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/EdgyCooler 25d ago

Maybe if he's the only male lion in the area and it's confirmed that a lioness, elephant, hippo, and other hyenas, etc didnt kill them.

→ More replies (6)

56

u/santas_delibird 25d ago

Someone (Unnatural History Channel) actually compared numbers from literature and found that by most metrics this story tells, it would mean that one singular lion has killed more hyenas than an entire pride per year.

Like how one study estimated that 73 known deaths of hyenas were from lions in the span of multiple years. (Watts, H. E., & Holekamp, K. E. 2009. Ecological determinants of survival and reproduction of spotted hyena. Journal of Mammalogy)

So this implies that this singular lion in its 10 year life killed more hyenas in a year than groups of lions multiple times over.

Also this implies that scarface has killed an entire pride’s worth of lions a year. Even in old age.

16

u/InclinationCompass 25d ago

Yea, im calling cap on those numbers

→ More replies (17)

9

u/Fuzzy-Egg777 25d ago

I feel like the lion just tells us his numbers and nobody wants to correct him. I personally think he’s a smoothie aficionado who had a blender accident but I’m not saying that to his face. His deformed, terrifying face.

2

u/TraditionalClub6337 25d ago

I also didn't like all the trash talk from this lion. You are supposed to treat your opponents with respect.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Same_Return_1878 25d ago

Cause they're lying.. 130 lions killed is enough to endanger lions existence in the said area.

2

u/Achtierl 22d ago

Also even If the number were high, most of these 'rivaling lions' probably were his own male offspring he killed while they we're still to young to actually win.

6

u/AlternativeCondition 25d ago

No, he just keeps killing

2

u/Omalleys 25d ago

They just use the scoreboard after every game has finished like on cod

2

u/Irivin 25d ago

All it takes is one sketchy outlet to exaggerate and they all start parroting it. The image here is also highly edited (if not completely generated) and barely matches the other photos of the lion

→ More replies (15)

192

u/Merrick_Skygrave 25d ago

dying of natural causes in that environment is crazy, he was an absolute badass

100

u/EnduringFulfillment 25d ago

It's sad that for most wild animals it means starving to death. No real nice ways to go in nature

53

u/I_travel_ze_world 25d ago

A lot of the old animals starving to death get eaten alive before they pass too.

double whammy

12

u/mentalIllnessLeft 25d ago

Son to be the natural way for a lot of childless elderly humans as well. Unless we get robots.

12

u/Intrepid_Cap1242 25d ago

They'll program the robots to eat the elderly, to be edgy and hardcore.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (3)

7

u/plushdev 25d ago

I mean is there any unnatural cause to die in the wild except getting hunted by a human?

10

u/English_Charles 25d ago

Unnatural causes would be anything that isn’t progressive organ failure, genetic conditions, diseases and things like heart attacks.

In other words, if it’s something from the outside doing the killing from the outside, then it’s unnatural.

7

u/Crix2007 25d ago

'He died of old age and being mauled to death during his after dinner nap'

2

u/stayinalive7 24d ago

What if a new alpha takes over and his favorite lioness leaves him for the new guy so he gets depressed and just runs off a cliff?

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (4)

312

u/Slow_Bowler8285 25d ago edited 25d ago

One of the original designs for The Lion King's Scar coincidentally resembles Scarface who was born after the film's 1994 debut

https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Scar_(The_Lion_King)/Gallery/Gallery)

125

u/Roving_kitten 25d ago

Live action scar should have looked like this guy.

They really blew it

39

u/J41M13 25d ago

There's always the next live action remake

25

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (2)

5

u/Additional_Equal_960 25d ago

Nah, scar isnt supposed to be physically imposing

2

u/Intrepid_Cap1242 25d ago

Just start filming him and see what footage you get. Within a week he throws another lion off a cliff into a stampede.

2

u/KowalOX 25d ago

Scar isn't an Alpha though. He uses his cunning and deception to take over the pride. He is never a physical match for Mufasa or Simba. This Scarface Lion is an absolute unit and true Alpha. He has no similarities to movie Scar other than a scar on the face.

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (3)

260

u/FangedSloth 25d ago

130?! Is this a real stat? That sounds insane

325

u/Impressive_Hold_5740 25d ago edited 25d ago

Obviously not. He might be a legend it that's not possible unless 98% of them were cubs. From what I read about this lion, in his coalition he wasn't even the leader, his brother was slightly bigger than scarface too. What caused popularity is his scar (which he got from tribal people attacking him and the forest rangers treated the scar) and his natural death which is rare for lions.

254

u/Awkward-Support-7334 25d ago

Didn't he throw his brother off a cliff too?

95

u/Wild_Butterscotch_29 25d ago

Whatever happened there… they were arguing… he fell.

37

u/the666briefcase 25d ago

He never had the makings of a varsity lion

13

u/YewEhVeeInbound 25d ago

Is it okay tone? That I kill 400 hyenas?

4

u/Alternative-Award784 25d ago

He was a jungle decorator!

5

u/Chairshot_from_Space 25d ago

To the victor...goes the spoils

2

u/SatyrSatyr75 25d ago

Die they even exhisht?

17

u/DungBeetle007 25d ago

WHATEVER HAPPENED THERE??? I'll tell you what happened there!! 🤬🤬

12

u/leoniddit 25d ago

Alright then

9

u/official_dustbin 25d ago

What happened there was this, he ate grilled cheese off the radiator.

5

u/FangedSloth 25d ago

Not a peep

2

u/Correct-Collection49 25d ago

20 fuckin years

→ More replies (2)

8

u/Ok_Matter_2617 25d ago

It’s sad when they go young like that

7

u/KaiserWolf15 25d ago

Zazu predicted all this

4

u/Mediocre_Rhubarb810 25d ago

WHEN THEY GO?!

3

u/grinlowr 25d ago

Watch it chrissy italian gestures

→ More replies (4)

3

u/Novakhaine89 25d ago

Yea, he had a noted shift in personality when he fell in with a crowd of hyenas. Got a bit of an ego and started aiming higher than his station.

→ More replies (5)

39

u/tinyElliss 25d ago edited 25d ago

Yeah I was just about to say this. He was still bad ass lion but that coalition and injury and the fact he died nature death, that's what kinda makes legend, it's not like he soloed half of savanah.

6

u/YrMomsBalls 25d ago

Survivalability is a strong genetic trait that he passed down to his kin. Half the reason the human population is still here in full force. If it wasn't for the discovery of antibiotics and the germ theory (antibiotics before ww1), we would have significantly higher death rate before adulthood especially infant deaths but modern medicine changed that in the last 100 years.

7

u/FerusGrim 25d ago

Survivalability is a strong genetic trait that he passed down to his kin.

"Survivalability" isn't a singular trait that can be passed down, nor was Scarface likely to have been significantly genetically different from his peers--Evolution doesn't work like that.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (5)

6

u/pew__pew__pew_ 25d ago

I was gonna say it would be pretty tough for him to remain the alpha of his pride for 10 years being down an eye

4

u/MeanHorror6819 25d ago

in the land of the blind the one-eyed is king

3

u/Ravensbigtruss 25d ago

the other lions arent blind , the rest of them have two eyes

3

u/RadishCandid6062 25d ago

Thank you for the update. Do you have a link to his actual real story?

7

u/HorohoroR 25d ago

I saw a documentary about his pride on TV but I couldn’t tell you the name. Iirc he was part of a four male coalition that took over the pride and kicked out his rival. The rival was quite the legend, he took a 2v1, killed one of his attackers, but the 2 others got his brother and he ended up 3v1, left for dead. Believe it or not, he survived, came back and befriended Scarface, taking back his spot as a co-ruler. Unfortunately this whole story made him a legend in the poaching world so when he disappeared it was speculated he might have been killed by man, letting Scarface to retake his reign. Crazy story with a heartbreaking ending. Hope I’m not mixing it up with another pride but I’m pretty sure it was in Maasai Mara so it tracks.

6

u/Suspicious-Snow7818 25d ago

It was a long running BBC show called Big Cat Diary. His pride was the Marsh pride, the other 3 lions were his brothers iirc, collectively known as the four musketeers.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/polarbearsarereal 25d ago

I wonder if he’s the same scarface from the nat geo docs I watch. (Who also had a big brother)

2

u/Limp_Yogurtcloset_71 24d ago

The numbers are exaggerated. He probably killed many lions as he and his brothers held the territory for over a decade. He got his scar when he was a subadult and fought an adult lion. The fight was captured on film, and he stood his own despite being a subadult.

→ More replies (6)

16

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (1)

8

u/Taktojaaa 25d ago

Bro its the internet, it must be true info

→ More replies (2)

3

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (10)

54

u/halkenburgoito 25d ago

All that shit was fugazi.. just a reputation he built of one lion kill and kept telling everyone he murked 30.. every year the number grew higher and higher.

Those of us really from the savannah know, he's not like that. Face got fucked up in a motercyling accident.

8

u/Feeling-Fab-U-Lus 25d ago

I heard it was a bar fight over his old lady…

4

u/Jimmyhasagun 25d ago

Tripped down some stairs

→ More replies (2)

51

u/naeads 25d ago

Never underestimate a old man in a game where young men die young

9

u/Select-Ad5166 25d ago

Just remember never to deny the count.

→ More replies (1)

16

u/Big-Rutabaga1403 25d ago

Battle Beast IRL

30

u/[deleted] 25d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

27

u/DrLegend29 25d ago

On a movie by disney

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)

14

u/Deathlordkunsel 25d ago

Battle beast

13

u/InfiniteOutfield 25d ago

Who keeps lion stats?

19

u/7thtimeinheaven 25d ago

Nobody. That number is entirely fictional

→ More replies (1)

6

u/luckyfox7273 25d ago

How would they know his kill count.

9

u/Mobbe_dik 25d ago

I'm not sure and it's mostly likely made up numbers, but organisations around the world do track lions, so maybe they can see that every time lions meet this angry mofo there ain't much moving after and they are proclaimed dead.

2

u/luckyfox7273 25d ago

If he was tagged and monitored sure.

3

u/SerSonicSeppo 25d ago

They are written on his face.

2

u/luckyfox7273 25d ago

Neat answer.

3

u/SCARY-WIZARD 23d ago

Checking his achievement tab.

2

u/CryptographerOld558 25d ago

His kill streak bonuses. 

2

u/MoistenedBeef 25d ago

He scratched a new line into his favourite tree for every kill

→ More replies (9)

4

u/Somebodsydog 25d ago

Long live the king

5

u/kaest 25d ago

His name Scarface comes from the scars that are on his face.

→ More replies (2)

3

u/inorite234 25d ago

So did he say it??? Did he say, "Say hello to muh lill friend!"

4

u/Extreme_Strength7445 25d ago

Ayo that him. That Scar from Lion King

5

u/MinimumPrevious1139 25d ago

That’s a live action from Disney that I would like to watch

16

u/justshutup190 25d ago

Pulling the numbers straight out of your own a66

14

u/BuggyDClown 25d ago

Can we please start writing ass again?

→ More replies (4)

3

u/runninWlegbraces 25d ago

Unfortunately, it didn't happen quite like that. Bhis only real claim to fame was ruling a decent sized territory with 3 other lions for 10 years when most only rule for 2-3. Info came from a search and I'm too lazy to post a link.

10

u/New_Life_Startr 25d ago

I never thought hyenas essential
They're crude and unspeakably plain
But maybe they've a glimmer of potential
If allied to my vision and brain

2

u/Aggravating_Tip7842 25d ago

Real life final boss of the savanna

2

u/Renderedperson 25d ago

Long live the king

2

u/ThaWeedWiz 25d ago

Who was keeping these stats….?

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Coeusthelost 25d ago

Long live the King...

2

u/Interesting_One_5755 25d ago

Bruh how do people still believe this bs? It did NOT kill 400 hyenas and shit,just another fake legend the internet believes

2

u/bbkn7 25d ago

LONG LIVE THE KING

2

u/BeautifulOne8095 24d ago

Quick fact check says more like 17(max) and done alongside his 3 brothers, Morani Sikio, and Hunter aka the Four Musketeers

→ More replies (1)