#76 Could Your Ancestors Have Been Victims of the Tsavo Lions
Did you know that two lions in Kenya once killed at least 28 people? These lions, known as the Tsavo Lions, became famous for attacking workers building a railway. But could your ancestors have been among their victims?
In this episode, we talk about the scary story of the Tsavo Lions, who killed many workers in 1898. We explain why these lions started hunting humans and what happened to them after the attacks. We also dive into the ethics of studying human remains and why researchers don’t want to test the teeth of the lions. We also link this story to the bigger history of slavery and colonization.
We also chat about how animals' teeth can teach us about history, migration, and even the health of different populations.
Key Moments:
- The story of the Tsavo Lions and their attacks on workers.
- The lions’ remains at the Field Museum in Chicago.
- Why researchers don’t want to study human DNA taken from the lions.
- The connection to slavery and colonization in Africa.
- How animal teeth help us learn about human history.
Link to the articles:
Insights from the Teeth of the Infamous Tsavo Lions
The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) - IMDb
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