Presumed dead

Olobor

Also known as Oloborr · The Boss of the Black Rock Boys

c. August 2017 – January 2024

Born in The Black Rocks, southern Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Olobor was a male lion of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and the dominant member of the Black Rock Boys, a coalition of five brothers born in 2017 to the Black Rock Pride in the south of the reserve. Heavily built and dark-maned, he was known to guides and fans as the boss of the five: the most aggressive of the brothers, the one who led them into new ground, and a fighter who was once filmed standing alone against a clan of more than 20 hyenas. His brothers were Oloshipa, Oloimina, Lorkulup and Oloisiadu, and the closest of them to him was Oloshipa.

He was one of nine cubs, five males and four females, raised together by three lionesses at the Black Rocks, and was about six weeks old in September 2017 when the filmmaker Reinhard Radke began following the litter for what became the documentary series Brotherhood of Lions. Local Maasai named the five brothers to suit their characters, and his name, spelled Oloborr in the documentary, is translated there as the sister-killer. At about two the brothers left the Black Rocks as nomads. In 2021 they crossed the Rongai River and took the Rongai Pride, while Olobor and Oloshipa also claimed the Maji ya Fisi Pride. In April 2022 the two of them killed the old Mara male known as King Olope in a territorial fight, and that year Marina Cano’s Portrait of Olobor was Highly Commended in Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

He was last reported seen on 25 January 2024. In early February reports spread that he had been speared by livestock herders in the Maji ya Fisi area, an area where several pride males had already been lost. The Kenya Wildlife Service said on 12 February that it had found no evidence of the killing and sent the Mara Predator research team to look for him, but he was never seen again. His loss caused an outcry among fans around the world, led to a legal challenge against the wildlife service, and marked the start of the end for the Black Rock Boys.

~3Years of reign

~6½Age at death

5Males in his coalition

20+Hyenas he faced alone

Profile

Identity

Name: OloborThe name he is best known by
Nicknames: Oloborr, Bad Boy, Powerhouse, King of the Mara, the Black Rock Boy
Origin of the name: A Maa name given by local Maasai to suit his characterTranslated as “the sister-killer” in the documentary Brotherhood of Lions; one Kenyan news report gives “the calm one”
Sex: Male
Distinguishing features: Massive, powerful frame and a dark maneDescribed as the most aggressive of the five brothers
Weight: Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg

Birth & Family

Born: c. August 2017He was about six weeks old in September 2017, according to Brotherhood of Lions
Birthplace: The Black Rocks, southern Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Birth pride: Black Rock PrideOne of nine cubs, five males and four females, raised together by three lionesses
Father: One of the old Black Rock males: Orkini, Longo or BennaWhich of them sired him is not known; some fans also name a male called Short Tail
Mother: Information not availableOne of the three Black Rock lionesses who raised the litter; she has not been publicly identified
Siblings: Oloshipa, Oloimina, Lorkulup and Oloisiadu (brothers); four sisters in the same litterWith three mothers in one litter, some of the five were half-brothers or cousins. Two younger relatives, Kijana and Lekijana, later followed them

Reign

Pride king: Yes, the dominant male of the Black Rock Boys coalition
Prides ruled: Rongai Pride and Maji ya Fisi Pride (from 2021)The coalition is also said to have held the Fig Tree Pride
Pride size: Information not available
Reign: About 3 years (2021 – January 2024)
Ruled with: Oloshipa, Oloimina and Lorkulup; most often Oloshipa
Coalition: The Black Rock Boys
Home range: The Rongai River and Maji ya Fisi areas of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Territory size: Information not available

Death

Died: Late January 2024Last reported seen on 25 January 2024. Reports of his death spread from 9 February; one later report put it around 27 February
Age at death: About 6½ yearsOne Kenyan report said 16, which does not match his 2017 birth
Cause of death: Reportedly speared by livestock herdersHuman–wildlife conflict. The Kenya Wildlife Service said on 12 February 2024 that it had found no evidence of the killing
Place of death: Reportedly the Maji ya Fisi area, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Burial: Information not availableFan accounts posted the location where he was said to have been killed and buried; other reports say his remains were never recovered

Names & Meanings

OloborName

The spelling used by Kenyan media, guides and most fans. It is a Maa name, one of five given to the brothers by local Maasai to suit their characters. Who first used it has not been documented.

OloborrOther spelling

The spelling used in the documentary Brotherhood of Lions, which translates the name as “the sister-killer”. One account links it to his killing a young female during a pride takeover; this has not been confirmed.

The calm oneReported meaning

A different translation given by a Kenyan news site in February 2024. It does not match the documentary’s translation or his fierce reputation.

Bad Boy, Powerhouse, King of the MaraNicknames used by fans

Used online and by some guides for his aggression and his dominance over the other four brothers.

Family & Lineage

Fathers’ coalitionOld Black Rock malesOrkini, Longo and Benna, the males of the Black Rock Pride when he was born. Which of them sired him is not known.

LionessMotherOne of the three Black Rock lionesses who raised nine cubs together. She has not been publicly identified.

OloborrOloborc. 2017 – 2024

Brother & closest partnerOloshipaCalled Orpadan, “the hunter”, in the documentary, and Olpadan in the press. Fought beside Olobor against King Olope in 2022. Killed by rival males in September 2025.View record →BrotherOloiminaOlumina, “the lame one”, in the documentary. The last of the five still alive in early 2026.View record →BrotherLorkulup“The tag-along” in the documentary; also said to mean runny nose. The gentle buffalo hunter, found dead beside an eland carcass in January 2025.View record →BrotherOloisiadu“The stay-behind” in the documentary. Disappeared in late 2021; believed killed by people.View record →

Litter-matesFour sistersThe other four cubs of the litter of nine were females.

Offspring of the coalitionThe Rongai RockersYoung males fathered by the Black Rock Boys in the Rongai and Maji ya Fisi prides. In a coalition, which male fathered which cub is usually unknown.

Reported sonOlonkeraOften called Olobor’s son; other fans describe him as Oloisiadu’s son. Not confirmed.

Reported sonBig BoyDescribed by fans as his first-born son, born in the Maji ya Fisi area. Not confirmed.

Life Story

c. August 2017
Born at the Black Rocks in the south of the Masai Mara, one of nine cubs, five males and four females, of three Black Rock Pride lionesses.
September 2017
At about six weeks old, filmed with the litter by Reinhard Radke’s crew, who went on to follow the five brothers for the first five years of their lives.
c. 2019
At about two years old, left the Black Rocks with his four brothers as a nomad. Named by local Maasai, he became known as the strongest of the five and the boss of the group.
2021
The brothers crossed the Rongai River and took over the Rongai Pride. Around the same time Olobor and Oloshipa claimed the Maji ya Fisi Pride.
June 2021
Badly injured by Spikey and Enkuroto, the males of the Lookout Pride, after he was found in their territory with a lioness. He walked back to his brothers, was treated by a vet and recovered with only superficial scars.
Late 2021
Oloisiadu disappeared, leaving four.
2022
Filmed fighting off a clan of more than 20 spotted hyenas on his own. He reportedly killed one and walked away.
25 April 2022
With Oloshipa, killed the old male known as King Olope, resident male of the Moniko, Fig Tree and Porini prides, in a territorial fight.
2022
Marina Cano’s Portrait of Olobor, taken against ground blackened by grass fires, was Highly Commended in Wildlife Photographer of the Year and put to the public vote for the People’s Choice award.
2023
Often seen with Oloshipa, moving between the Rongai and Maji ya Fisi prides.
25 January 2024
His last reported sighting.
7 – 9 February 2024
Fans raised concern that he had not been seen; reports that he had been speared by herders in the Maji ya Fisi area spread on social media.
12 February 2024
The Kenya Wildlife Service said its investigators had found no evidence of the killing and asked the reserve’s management and the Mara Predator research team to look for him. He was never found.
Early March 2024
American lion enthusiast Luis Franco, through lawyer David Kipruto, sent the wildlife service a 14-day legal notice demanding action over the killing of Olobor and other Mara lions.
13 March 2024
Brotherhood of Lions, the story of Olobor and his brothers, was broadcast on ARTE.
2024 – 2025
A petition over his death, ELCLPET/E015/2024, was filed in Kenya’s Environment and Land Court. It was reportedly settled in January 2025 with measures for better lion protection.

Legend & Truth

One name, two meanings

The documentary that followed him from six weeks old translates Oloborr as “the sister-killer”. A Kenyan news site translated Olobor as “the calm one”. The first fits his reputation as the fiercest of the five; neither translation has been confirmed by a Maa speaker in print.

Was his death confirmed?

Never officially. The Kenya Wildlife Service said it found no evidence, and a report two months later said his remains had still not been recovered. Fan accounts said lion researchers privately confirmed his death, and he was never seen again.

Not to be confused with Oloiborr

Oloiborr is a different, younger Mara male, also a son of the old Black Rock males. With his partner Manywele he later took the Black Rock Pride and the Sopa Pride.

Not the only one

He was not the first pride male lost around Maji ya Fisi. Fans list several earlier males of the area who were killed or vanished, and two of his brothers, Oloisiadu and Lorkulup, are also widely believed to have been killed by people.

Fans across the world

A dedicated group of fans in China followed the Black Rock Boys every day through safari footage. One of their chat groups was formed after Olobor disappeared, and they later paid for tribute billboards in London and New York.

Photographs

Photograph coming soon

More photographs

Film

The film of Oloborr’s life is coming soon

Animation

An animated story of Oloborr’s life is coming soon

Documentaries & Features

Documentary series2024

Brotherhood of Lions

Reinhard Radke — ARTE / ZDF Studios

Three episodes following the five Black Rock brothers from six weeks old through their first five years. Oloborr is introduced as the strongest male and the boss of the group.

View

Photograph2022

Portrait of Olobor

Marina Cano — Wildlife Photographer of the Year

An eye-level portrait of Olobor resting on burnt black ground. Highly Commended, and one of the 25 images put to the People’s Choice vote.

View

Online videoFebruary 2023

Black Rock Boys — February 2023

YouTube

Footage of Olobor and Oloshipa moving between the Rongai and Maji ya Fisi prides.

Watch

ArticleJune 2025

Why Chinese Fans Are Hiring Detectives for a Dead Kenyan Lion

Sixth Tone — Jiang Xinyi

The fans in China who followed the Black Rock Boys, and how they reacted to the loss of Olobor and Lorkulup.

Features his brother LorkulupView

ArticleJanuary 2026

Olobor

Letura

A Mara photographer’s profile of Olobor, his character and his death.

View

Sources

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

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