Mathata: the oldest known lioness in the wild

Wonderful nature: this lioness has reached an extraordinary age as a free animal, in her natural habitat. A photographer collected some images of this regal feline before his death

Everything is told by a look of hers: the great life of events, conflicts, and obstacles, and the scars to prove each word. They called her Mathata, and till nowadays, she is considered the oldest known wild lioness, if not in Africa, then probably in the world.

Mathata had been estimated to be 18 years and 7 months old when Ivan Ueckermann photographed her final moments in life-a magnificent lioness.

Mathata disappeared in December 2023, peacefully passing away in her home. She was a free-roaming lioness of the pride in northern South Africa, resident in the area of Madikwe Game Reserve, bordering Botswana.

Such an age is impressive for a wild cat that has never been under human intervention. Usually, male lions, if in the wild, are going to live up to about 10-15 years of life, and lionesses easily outlive such an age often well over 16 years. Mathata did not break such a trend.

In zoos and sanctuaries, the lions may live as long as 20 years or even more. Wild animals under captivity have been relieved from their struggles of hunting food, competition with other species, defending themselves against predators, or ailing diseases. But is that really living?

A symbol of wisdom and resilience

For most online users, she resembles Zira from Disney’s “The Lion King“-the exiled lioness. Likeliness or not, Mathata did not fail to make her mark as a synonym of sagacity and survival in the wild to all who knew her story.

Source: ivanueckermann/Instagram