Coalition · Ended

The Four Musketeers

Also known as The Musketeers · Masai Mara, Kenya

c. 2011 – c. 2023

Origin: Masai Mara, Kenya

The Four Musketeers were four related male lions, Scarface, Morani, Sikio and Hunter, who grew up together in Kenya’s Masai Mara and became the most famous lion coalition of their time. Guides believe they were fathered by the Notch males, the dominant Mara coalition of the 2000s.

When they were only about four years old, the brothers drove the males Romeo and Clawed out of the Marsh Pride, the pride made famous by the BBC’s Big Cat Diary. In 2016 they also took over the Paradise Pride. Four males fighting as one were close to unbeatable, and they held ground along the Mara River for the better part of a decade.

Time slowly broke the coalition apart. Hunter died first, in 2017, and Sikio died after a fight with rival males. Scarface died peacefully of old age in June 2021, and Morani, the last of the four, disappeared around two years later and was never found.

Members

Leader & most famous Scarface c. 2007 – 11 June 2021 Died peacefully of old age at about 14. Read the full record M The last survivor Morani c. 2007 – c. 2023 Disappeared about two years after Scarface and was never found. Read the full record S Brother Sikio c. 2007 – unknown Died after a fight with rival males. Read the full record H Brother Hunter c. 2007 – 2017 The first of the four to die. Read the full record

4Members

~9Years of reign

2Prides ruled

2021End of reign

Profile

Coalition

Members: Scarface, Morani, Sikio, Hunter
Relationship: Brothers / related malesBelieved to be sons of the Notch males
Origin / birthplace: Masai Mara, KenyaAll four were born there around 2007
How it formed: Grew up together and left their birth pride as young nomads

Reign

Area: Musiara Marsh, Paradise Plains and the Mara River, Masai Mara, Kenya
Prides ruled: Marsh Pride (from 2011–2012), Paradise Pride (from 2016)
Took over from: Romeo and Clawed (Marsh Pride)
Reign: About 9 years (c. 2012 – 2021)
Territory size: Information not availableFigures between 400 km² and 400 square miles circulate but are not verified

End

End of the coalition: Hunter 2017, Sikio after a fight, Scarface June 2021, Morani c. 2023
Successors: Information not available

Names & Meanings

The Four MusketeersCoalition name

A nod to Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Three Musketeers, whose heroes fight together under the motto “all for one, one for all”.

ScarfaceMember

Named for the deep scar across his right eye.

MoraniMember

From the Maa word moran, a young Maasai warrior.

SikioMember

The Swahili word for ear.

HunterMember

An English name meaning one who hunts.

Story of the Coalition

c. 2007
The four males were born in the Masai Mara and grew up together.
2011 – 2012
At about four years old they took the Marsh Pride from Romeo and Clawed. Scarface received the wound across his right eye around this time.
2016
The coalition took over the Paradise Pride, around nine lionesses with cubs.
2017
Hunter died. The three remaining brothers held ground along the Mara River.
Later years
Sikio died after a fight with rival males.
11 June 2021
Scarface died peacefully of old age.
c. 2023
Morani, the last Musketeer, disappeared and was never found.