Lion with luscious head of hair becomes viral sensation

Nicknamed the "Samson of the Zoo," Leon the lion has become a huge hit at Labem Zoo in the Czech Republic because of his long, beautiful hair.

The gorgeous beast arrived in the Czech zoo in 2005, according to the Daily Mail, and instantly became the "mane" attraction.

Male lions generally start to get manes starting around the age of one or two, a sign of sexual maturity. In addition to being a sexual competitive advantage, famed biologist Charles Darwin believed that male lions had manes to "protect a male’s neck during a fight with another male," according to research from the University of Minnesota.

A lion's mane is often associated with males of the species, but females have been known to grown them as well.

Just recently, an 18-year-old African lioness at Oklahoma City Zoo, Bridget, stunned her keepers by growing a mane.

 Source : foxnews