After years of stories like The Lion King and their general perception as the kings of the jungle, a lot of us have developed a complicated image of lions. On one hand, we recognize them as ferocious creatures who we figure come by that "king" reputation honestly, which makes us as drawn to them as we are nervous about approaching them.

Fourteen-year-old Morani recently took the title of oldest lion in the Maasai Mara—a national reserve home to lions, cheetahs, and zebras—after the passing of his brother and prior record holder, Scarface, earlier this year.

The amazing pictures were captured this month by professional wildlife photographer Leighton Lum, 33, while on a photography workshop in Kenya in East Africa. "Just by looking at his face, you can tell this guy has been through a lot," Lum, from Hawaii, said. Morani, the oldest lion in the Maasai Mara. (Courtesy of Caters News).

Amazing pictures show the oldest known lion in a national reserve in Kenya. (Courtesy of Caters News). "He went from a young stud leader of a pride, a king, to a retired old man who still fights for survival in the Mara. "Morani was a part of a coalition of four males and he's the only one remaining out of the four.

"He is a lone male who has been pushed out of the pride by younger, stronger males which is a natural process in lions as the strongest males will control the pride. "In general, adult male lions are lazy by nature and can sleep for 20 hours a day. "We spotted him in the morning, then went back at the very end of the day only to find him no more than 15 feet from where we left him. "Even when he does get up and sit down, it is a rather slow process."

Fourteen-year-old Morani recently took the title of oldest lion in the Maasai Mara after the passing of his brother and prior record holder, Scarface, earlier this year. (Courtesy of Caters News). The amazing pictures were captured by professional wildlife photographer Leighton Lum, 33. (Courtesy of Caters News).

Lum was on a photography workshop in Kenya, East Africa, when she snapped the lion. (Courtesy of Caters News). Lum from Hawaii said, "Just by looking at his face, you can tell this guy has been through a lot." (Courtesy of Caters News). "In general, adult male lions are lazy by nature and can sleep for 20 hours a day!" Lum said. (Courtesy of Caters News).