Living With Lions

LOLIONDO, NORTHERN TANZANIA - NOVEMBER 2: A Masai coming-of-age ceremony in a remote Masai village in Loliondo, Northern Tanzania on November 2, 2012. Two of the young warriors in this ceremony are wearing a Lion Mane head-dress from a lion they speared 3 years ago. The Masai have a long history of lion-killing, both as a proving ground for young warriors in their ascent to manhood and also to protect their cattle from lion attacks. This is an illegal activity and 3 years ago a number of young warriors were arrested and jailed for this offense. Illegal lion killing continues amongst the Masai today, but as lion numbers dwindle, this activity is also increasingly rare to find. Conflict between the pastoralist Masai and the lion is an age-old phenomenon. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images Reportage)