Let’s join in with Luke the Black Maned Lion and his son John in a great tree hugger love fest.
We love trees
Trees are our friends. Trees support our lives.
They provide shelter from the sun.
They provide heat in the winter.
Trees are awesome.
Categories: Nature, travel, Washington DC
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
There’s cats, and then there’s big cats!!!
Meow Corinne ! or in this case…ROAR !!!
Looks like trees are also great for keeping the claws in good shape! 🙂
Gotta love big Luke!
Better to scratch on a tree then on a zoo keeper right?
It is said that the king of animals ie male lion is the world’s largest henpecked husband (in dansh slipper-hero) and the female lion is the real boss – perhaps this male lion just is into some “let off steam” and use the tree because he doesn’t dare make all his lionesses dissatisfied ..? 🙂 😉 😉
Great shots… 🙂
How ever did you figure that out from these photos Drake ? As a matter of fact one of the girls was in heat and Luke was really sexually frustrated. No sex until the 3 remaing children leave the house. Poor Luke, he was really pent up.
I wouldnl’t think that the King of Jungle will bow down to a humble tree and give homage to a Tree. This picture makes me want to give them lions a hug…. from a distance.
That is so true Seeker, what a wonderful way of seeing the homage Luke was giving to the tree. He really was bowing down to it and loving on it. Thanks for your wonderful comment!
Beautiful pictures! Love these cats!
I’m such a Luke Groupie..I love to visit him. Can’t believe though that it’s been a year since I’ve been down there. His kids have grown up so much!
Great images. He looks so happy!
Both of them love their trees, and it’s wonderful to see.
What a POWERFUL animal!!!
I would not want to piss off Luke. You should see the damage he incurs on big play balls. 🙂
I’m good!!! Luke and I are COOL!
NOt quite what I think of when I think of tree huggers, but I like it,
Me either Leanne ! That’s why I loved these shots so much. 🙂
I don’t know how I missed this post Emily – all so beautiful, of course, and a bit sad and funny. i hadn’t picked up on Luke’s pent up frustration, like Le Drake Noir, but it seemed obvious, from the weatherboard sidings on the bottom tree, that he’s in danger of loving the living tree to death!
LOL ! Too funny ! Part of the idea of the sideboards is so that he doesn’t actually climb the tree. Pity any squirrel that may be up there. Poor boy was roaring away wanting some. 🙂
Oh dear – this is when i have trouble with the concept of Zoos – it’s just so boring for them, and controlled.