Magnificent

Say hello to Ashok, the Asiatic lion.

Looks like he's ready for his close-up. No make-up required. His face and mane dramatic, his unyielding gaze fixed upon mine. As I took this photo he strode towards me, head perfectly still, muscular shoulders moving up and down like pistons.

In that moment I realised why lions do not speak; they don't need to. I knew exactly what he was saying, it was written all over his face.

A fence separated me from him, but for a brief moment I forgot and that look did its job. I swallowed hard and shuffled back slightly. I had yielded. He had won.

The theatre of the zoo.