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Famine
Famine
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General information
Location

Pride Lands

Participants

   Banzai
   Ed
   Nala
   Sarabi
   Scar
   Shenzi
   Zazu

Outcome

   The Pride Lands are decimated
   The prey herds vacate the Pride Lands
   Nala leaves the Pride Lands to look for help
   The hyenas lose confidence in Scar

Guide
Previous

Scar's coronation

Next

Battle for Pride Rock

Sarabi: Scar, there is no food. The herds have moved on.
Scar: No! You're just not looking hard enough!
Sarabi: It's over. There is nothing left.
Sarabi and Scar, on the poor condition of the Pride Lands[src]

The famine was a period of impoverishment in the Pride Lands that occurred due to Scar's inability to manage the hyenas' excessive hunting habits. It began when Scar ascended the throne of Pride Rock and ended with Simba's return to the Pride Lands.

Information[]

Scar's coronation[]

Mufasa's death is a terrible tragedy. But to lose Simba, who had barely begun to live... For me, it is a deep, personal loss. So it is with a heavy heart that I assume the throne. Yet out of the ashes of this tragedy, we shall rise to greet the dawning of a new era, in which lion and hyena come together, in a great and glorious future!
Scar assumes the throne of Pride Rock[src]

Following the success of his plot to kill Mufasa and banish Simba, Scar assumed the throne. During his coronation, he invited his allies, the hyenas, to enter the Pride Lands. The pride was shocked at this change, but Scar explained that a new era of partnership between their respective species had begun.[1]

The famine[]

Nala: Simba, [Scar] let the hyenas take over the Pride Lands.
Simba: What?
Nala: Everything's destroyed. There's no food, no water. Simba, if you don't do something soon, everyone will starve.
Nala begs Simba to claim his birthright[src]

Under Scar's reign, the Pride Lands were reduced to a wasteland, as Scar allowed the hyenas free reign of the land. He also forced the lionesses to hunt excessively in order to feed the hyenas. In addition, a severe drought hit the kingdom, killing off the prey's food supply and drying up all the water in the Pride Lands. The effects of the over-hunting and the drought soon took their toll on the Pride Lands, and the prey herds all gradually left for new territories. This left the lionesses and the hyenas with nothing to eat.[1]

Lion-king-disneyscreencaps

Shenzi complains about the lack of food in the Pride Lands.

Despite Scar's general unpopularity as king, he developed a close relationship with a lioness named Zira, who, along with several other lionesses, supported him. At some point, Zira gave birth to Kovu, whom Scar chose to be his heir.[2]

As the condition of the Pride Lands worsened, the hyenas appealed to Scar to find them more food, but he refused to deal with the problem, offering Zazu as sustenance instead. Meanwhile, Nala left the Pride Lands in search of help. She eventually happened upon a full-grown Simba, who had taken refuge in the jungle. She begged Simba to return to the Pride Lands and challenge Scar for the throne, and although at first he resisted, he ultimately agreed to reclaim his birthright.

Lion-king-disneyscreencaps

Simba expresses shock over the impoverished state of the Pride Lands.

Back in the Pride Lands, Scar summoned Sarabi to Pride Rock and confronted her over the pride's refusal to hunt. Sarabi explained that there was no food left and asserted that their only choice was to abandon Pride Rock. Scar refused, and when Sarabi angrily invoked Mufasa's name, declaring him the better king, he hit her to the ground.

Just then, Simba arrived with Nala and challenged Scar for the throne. Scar refused, and a battle ensued between the hyenas and lions. Simba emerged victorious, with the hyenas turning on and killing Scar. Simba took his rightful place as king of the land, and under his reign, the famine came to an end and the prey herds returned, leading the Pride Lands to flourish once more.[1]

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

Media[]

References[]

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