Lion | THE NOTCHES ✯ The Reign Of Terror In The Mara Plains HD

Lions of Africa: The Notches male coalition *2005 - 2020* [Maasai Mara, Kenya] ✍ Note: The mighty 5 sons of King Notch - The Marsh pride had eight cubs when Notch was finally dislodged in 2007. Once again it was predicted that Notch wouldn’t survive long as a nomad, but then he did something unthinkable. When he was chased away from the Marsh Pride he joined his sons, five sub-adult male cubs, who’d barely escaped with their lives when their father was dislodged. They were now nomads in the wild and moved into Serengeti. Notch took care of his sons – Notch II, Mighty Long, Ron, Caesar and Grimace – for more than a year until they were fully grown. After their banishment they came back: Notch was probably nine years old when their reign of terror began in the Mara in 2008. Within a few years they’d established absolute dominance in the Mara by killing and intimidating lions that stood in their way. They ruled over several prides including Paradise, Mugoro, Serena, Rekero, Rekero Breakaway, Rongai, Olkiombo, Maji ya Fisi and the Lookout Prides. Their reign was not all rosy. Due to the incredibly huge territory that they controlled, it seemed they had spread themselves thin with Mighty Long vanishing in the Mara Triangle in 2010, probably killed by other male lions. By now, Notch was on his last legs. He was more than 14 years old when he died in 2013. He had split from his boys in the last few years of his life, but was always near them for food and security. A few months after Notch’s death, Grimace also died deep into enemy territory and although the coalition was now cut in half they were still formidable. Although their territory had shrunk from their heydays, Ron, Caesar and Notch II were still intimidating and menacing to other lion coalitions. Sometime in 2016 Ron was killed by the Sand River Males who were slowly becoming a formidable coalition. Caesar died in 2017 after he developed a limp on his hind legs. Notch II was the only one remaining and he left his territory quietly without putting up much of a fight. The son of Notch became a nomad in his former territory and disappeared. Rumours were rife in the Mara that he was dead. Notch II reappeared months later and to the surprise of lion lovers across the world he was with Spearboy, his dashingly handsome and fierce son. History was repeating itself. Notch II, being his father’s son, had realized that he had to team up with his up-and-coming son to increase his chances of survival as he was over 14 years old just like his father had done over a decade ago. The father-and-son duo formed the Lookout Pride and stayed together for more than a year until Notch II disappeared in 2020 and is presumed dead at the age of 15. Spearboy became a nomad in the Mara after his father’s demise. Notch II’s longevity even eclipsed his father and it’s hoped that the new generation of lions will be equally as brilliant as these legends. The Notches never really stayed with a pride but roamed the Mara co