Spent Some Time Hanging Out With The African Lions(Panthera Leo) Yesterday. We Filmed An Interview With

Spent some time hanging out with the African lions (Panthera leo) yesterday. We filmed an interview with visiting researcher Larisa DeSantis, who is interested in studying microwear patterns on feliforms - species of wild cats, and hyenas. Tiny breaks in the teeth can be an indication of what an animal was eating shortly before it died, whether they were shearing soft tissues or breaking into hardened bone, which could indicate scavenging behavior.  

This sort of research becomes particularly interesting when you’re looking at specimens living during extinction events. Museum collections allow these scientists to compare recent specimens to older examples of that species. If, historically, a species wasn’t known to be scavenging, but you see significant microwear in the more recent specimens, then it could imply that prey animals were scarce and a non-scavenger would have been more desperate for prey. 

But what really blows my mind is the application of this research when studying man-eating behaviors. We still aren’t certain as to why the Lions of Tsavo began preying on railway workers in 1898. A few theories include evaluating dental and pain disease, and how that could have precluded the lions from hunting their typical large game (although research published in 2011 indicates they were still consuming herbivores). Other hypotheses suggest there was food scarcity and they were simply desperate – or perhaps the lions gained a taste for human flesh after eating workers who died of other causes. By taking dental impressions of the Tsavo Lions’ teeth, we may be able to answer this question – with science! In other words, heavy microwear on the Tsavo lions’ teeth could indicate they were super desperate and eating whatever was around - including people.

Stay tuned for the upcoming videos on the Tsavo Lions and Other Man-Eaters – and check out more of Larisa’s fascinating dental-work-meets-paleontology research here.

Bluesky Social

badly-drawn bee 🐝 (@soapachu.bsky.social)

Walthamstow says fuck racism.

A lot of my friends have backslid--understandably--into despairposting and doomreblogging about this, so I want to give you something a bit different: the UK does not like these rioting racist twats and is prepared to say so loudly and with force.

please don't reblog posts that are "EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE" unless they contain some way for the people reading them to take action--whether it's gofundmes, or letter templates for MPs, petition links, etc. "LOOK AT THE BAD THING" is for the newspapers. we are not the newspapers, we are the people trying to fix the fucking mess they've made.

Well.... I may or may not be damned, one slip and Im prolly getting shot like a half dead deer

@idk-kraftfahrkorps u :3

the og post was way too long so I'm making a new one

thanks for the tag @lombolica !! :D

You're stuck in a room with the last character in your gallery how safe are you

very safe

the worst thing that could happen is him being clumsy, so I think I'm alright (unless monsters find him I guess)

tagging (no pressure): @flaretheidiot @lemonic-whimssyy @wibbly-wobbly-blog @cryptidanathema @virtualunease @aurlworthfightingfor @angrysheep @sugarplumanderson @time-travelling-chaos @fateisnotafactor @monstrousmaws @sinfulauthor @idkaguyorsomething @vampireopossum and anyone who wants to do this!

Reblogging for saving, this looks pretty cool, I'll defo try to get it :]

Ferro-Grumley Award-winning polymath, JOHN R GORDON, spent more than a decade writing Drapetomania, the first novel about same gender loving men during slavery times. For GORDON, this novel required years of research into that grotesque period of history.

This propulsive novel has since been acclaimed by luminaries like MICHAEL ERIC DYSON, PATRIK IAN-POLK and ALEXIS DE VEAUX (close friend and biographer of the late, great AUDRE LORDE).

A literary triumph worth celebrating, Drapetomania is available to purchase here.

Hello sorry for an ask. I am very sick, my asthma is at its maximum level, my nose freezes, I have no medicine or food. I am in bad shape financially, I am a black disabled, who uses multiple medications, I pay for my food and lodging

Unfortunately I do not have all the resources to keep me safe, that is why I need your help, whatever you can contribute to me will be of great help.

Hello! Sorry for not answering your ask previously, I get anxious at times

I really really wish I could help, but I can't I'm sorry. But I really hope you can get help, and recover from your asthma, wish you the best of recoveries!!

I'm curious. Reblog this if you know how to cook

I don’t even care if it’s macaroni, ramen or those little bowls you stick in the microwave. Please, I need reassurance that most of the population on tumblr WOULDN’T STARVE TO DEATH if their parents couldn’t fix them food or they couldn’t go out to eat.