The Archives – MlionH

The Notch Coalition was one of the most remarkable lion coalitions ever recorded in the Masai Mara: a father, Notch, and his five sons, Notch II, Mighty Long, Ron, Caesar and Grimace. Coalitions are usually made up of brothers or males of a similar age, so a father leading his own grown sons was rare.

It began around 2007, when Notch lost the Marsh Pride to Romeo and Clawed and left with his five sub-adult sons. As the sons grew, the six males took over pride after pride. Around 2010 they took the River Pride at Rekero from the male Fang, a story told in Disneynature’s African Cats, and in February 2012 they were reported to control five prides in the eastern Mara.

The coalition slowly came apart. Mighty Long disappeared around 2010, Notch died in 2013, Grimace died in rival territory, Ron was reportedly killed by the Sand River males in 2016, and Caesar died in 2017, leaving Notch II as the last of the original males. Their line continued through grandsons such as the Rekero males.

Members

Father & leader Notch c. 1999 – 2013 Former king of the Marsh Pride. Died at about 14. Read the full record

Son · the last survivor Notch II c. 2005 – c. 2020 The last original member. Later teamed up with his son Spear Boy. Read the full record M Son Mighty Long c. 2005 – c. 2010 Disappeared around 2010. Read the full record

Son Ron c. 2005 – 2016 Went missing in mid-2016; reportedly killed by the Sand River males. Read the full record C Son · the giant Caesar c. 2005 – August 2017 Last seen in August 2017 after an abscess and fight wounds. Read the full record

Son · the youngest Grimace c. 2005 – 2013 Vanished in rival territory a few months after his father. Read the full record

Profile

Coalition

Members: Notch, Notch II, Mighty Long, Ron, Caesar, Grimace
Relationship: Father and five sonsA rare form of coalition
Origin / birthplace: Marsh Pride, Masai Mara, KenyaThe sons were born in the Marsh Pride around 2005
How it formed: c. 2007, when Notch lost the Marsh Pride and left with his sub-adult sons

Reign

Area: Masai Mara, Kenya, especially the Rekero area and the east of the reserve
Prides ruled: River Pride (Rekero), Olkiombo, Olkeju Ronkai, Ridge, Paradise and Maji ya Fisi
Took over from: Fang (River Pride at Rekero)
Reign: About 10 years (c. 2008 – 2017)
Territory size: Information not availableClaims of more than 1,000 km² are not verified

End

End of the coalition: Mighty Long c. 2010, Notch 2013, Grimace after 2013, Ron 2016, Caesar 2017; Notch II the last
Successors: Their sons and grandsons, including the Rekero males

Names & Meanings

The Notch CoalitionCoalition name

Named after its leader, Notch, whose name comes from the notches in his ears.

Notch & SonsPopular name

Used by guides and lodges for the unusual father-and-sons coalition.

Kali and his sonsFilm name

The names used in Disneynature’s African Cats (2011).

Story of the Coalition

c. 2005
Notch’s five sons were born in the Marsh Pride.
c. 2007
Romeo and Clawed drove Notch out of the Marsh Pride; he left with his five sons, about two and a half years old.
2008
Seen together in the BBC’s Big Cat Live.
c. 2010
Took the River Pride at Rekero from Fang. Mighty Long disappeared.
February 2012
Reported to control five prides in the eastern Mara.
2013
Notch died at about 14.
After 2013
Grimace died in rival territory.
Mid-2016
Ron went missing, reportedly killed by the Sand River males.
2017
Caesar died, leaving Notch II as the last original member.

Photographs

Photograph coming soon

More photographs

Film

The film of The Notch Coalition is coming soon

Animation

An animated story of The Notch Coalition is coming soon

Documentaries & Features

Feature film2011

African Cats

Disneynature

Tells the story of Kali (Notch) and his sons crossing the river to take Fang’s River Pride.

Television2008

Big Cat Live

BBC

Notch was filmed with his sons after losing the Marsh Pride.

Sources

Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.