The lion king – Disney’s lion villain lives on the Masai Mara

By Jamie Smith

One of Disney’s greatest villains from the lion king has a real life doppelganger in the savanna.

Scar is the Lion King’s scheming antagonist who plots to kill his brother Mufasa and steal the throne from young Simba.

He is named after and noted for the flesh-coloured scar that runs over his left eye.

Pic by Ingo Gerlach / Caters News 

Despite Scar meeting a sticky end at the teeth of his hyena henchmen, these photos show his spirit lives on in this mean lioness in the Masai Mara, Kenya.

Pictures by German photographer Ingo Gerlach show her biting the neck of her prey with a visible scar down her left eye.

After her feast, she stares straight down the lens of the camera with a bloodied nose and muzzle.

Pic by Ingo Gerlach / Caters News

Ingo, 63, from Cologne, said: “A pride of lions was running directly in front of my car.

“All of a sudden, the one I called Scarface – owing to her big, black scar – picked up a scent.

“With a quick attack the pride captured a warthog, which had believed itself safely hidden in the long grass.

Pic by Ingo Gerlach / Caters News 

“Its screams lasted a long time until the lions eventually finished it off.

“For the relatively large pride the warthog was nothing more than a small appetiser.

“After the meal Scarface licked her face with relish.

“I imagine she got the scar in a fight with a love rival.”