Deceased

Oloshipa

Also known as Orpadan · King of Rongai

c. August 2017 – late September 2025

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

Oloshipa was a male lion of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and one of the five Black Rock Boys, the brothers born in 2017 to the Black Rock Pride in the south of the reserve. Big and golden-maned, he was the coalition’s hunter, usually first to the prey, and for most of his life the constant companion of Olobor, the boss of the five. In the documentary series Brotherhood of Lions, which followed the brothers from six weeks old, he is called Orpadan, the hunter, and Kenyan reporters wrote his name as Olpadan.

He grew up at the Black Rocks as one of nine cubs raised by three lionesses, and left with his brothers as a nomad at about two. In 2021 the five took the Rongai Pride, and he and Olobor also claimed the Maji ya Fisi Pride. On 25 April 2022 the two of them killed the old Mara male known as King Olope in a territorial fight. Together they pushed into new ground, including the Topi Pride territory of the older Salas males in 2023, and fans came to see the pair as inseparable.

After Olobor vanished in January 2024 and Lorkulup was found dead in early 2025, Oloshipa and the lame Oloimina were left to hold the Rongai and Fig Tree prides on their own. He was last seen on the evening of 23 September 2025 in a standoff with rival males pushing into Rongai territory. His partly scavenged remains were found at Double Crossing, and in October 2025 the Kenya Wildlife Service confirmed that he had died, at about eight, of injuries from a fight with Olepolos and Osapuk, the dominant males of the Topi Pride, with no sign of human involvement. Oloimina was left to defend both prides alone.

~4Years of reign

~8Age at death

5Males in his coalition

2Prides he held at the end

Profile

Identity

Name: OloshipaThe name he is best known by
Nicknames: Orpadan (“the hunter”), Olpadan, King of Rongai
Origin of the name: A Maa name given by local MaasaiThe meaning of Oloshipa has not been documented; his documentary name Orpadan means “the hunter”
Sex: Male
Distinguishing features: Large build and a golden maneKnown as the big one and the hunter of the five
Weight: Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg

Birth & Family

Born: c. August 2017The litter 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
Mother: Information not availableOne of the three Black Rock lionesses who raised the litter; she has not been publicly identified
Siblings: Olobor, 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

Reign

Pride king: Yes, one of the dominant males of the Black Rock Boys; in his last years co-ruler with Oloimina
Prides ruled: Rongai Pride and Maji ya Fisi Pride (from 2021); Rongai and Fig Tree prides in his last years
Pride size: Information not available
Reign: About 4 years (2021 – September 2025)
Ruled with: Olobor, Oloimina and Lorkulup; from 2025 Oloimina alone
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 September 2025Last seen on the evening of 23 September 2025; his death was confirmed by guides in early October and by the Kenya Wildlife Service on 23 October
Age at death: About 8 years
Cause of death: Natural: injuries from a fight with rival male lionsThe Kenya Wildlife Service named Olepolos and Osapuk of the Topi Pride and found no sign of human or livestock involvement. A Mara guide described the rival as one of the Salas Boys
Place of death: Double Crossing, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Burial: Information not availableHis remains were found partly scavenged; no burial was reported

Names & Meanings

OloshipaName

The name used by guides, fans and the Kenyan media. It is a Maa name; its meaning has not been documented in any source we could find.

OrpadanName in the documentary

In Brotherhood of Lions the five brothers carry Maa names given by local Maasai to suit their characters. Orpadan is translated as “the hunter”, because he was always in the lead and first to the prey. Fans widely identify Orpadan as Oloshipa.

OlpadanOther spelling

Used by Kenyan newspapers reporting the killing of King Olope in 2022.

King of RongaiTitle

Used by Mara guides in tributes after his death, for his rule over the Rongai Pride.

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.

OrpadanOloshipac. 2017 – 2025

Brother & closest partnerOloborOloborr, “the sister-killer”, the boss of the five. Fought beside Oloshipa against King Olope in 2022. Disappeared in January 2024, reportedly speared by herders.View record →Brother & last partnerOloiminaOlumina, “the lame one”. Ruled the Rongai and Fig Tree prides with Oloshipa to the end, then alone.View record →BrotherLorkulup“The tag-along” in the documentary. 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 offspringCubs of 2025Fans report that the young cubs in the Rongai and Fig Tree prides at the time of his death were sons of Oloshipa and Oloimina. Which cub belongs to which brother is not known.

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 for what became Brotherhood of Lions.
c. 2019
Left the Black Rocks with his four brothers as a nomad. Named Orpadan, the hunter, he was usually first to the prey.
2021
The brothers crossed the Rongai River and took the Rongai Pride. With Olobor he also claimed the Maji ya Fisi Pride.
25 April 2022
With Olobor, killed the old male known as King Olope, resident male of the Moniko, Fig Tree and Porini prides, in a territorial fight.
2023
Often seen with Olobor moving between the Rongai and Maji ya Fisi prides. The pair also pushed into the Topi Pride territory of the older Salas males, without taking it over.
January 2024
Olobor disappeared, reportedly speared by herders. Oloshipa lost his closest partner.
Early 2025
Lorkulup was found dead, leaving Oloshipa and Oloimina to hold the Rongai and Fig Tree prides.
2025
Filmed going on the offensive in Salas and Topi Pride territory, roaring, scent-marking and chasing the aging Salas males.
23 September 2025
Last seen in the evening, in a standoff with rival males pushing into Rongai territory.
Late September 2025
Died of injuries from a fight with rival males. Guides searched for about a week.
Early October 2025
Mara guides announced that he had died after a fight with one of the Salas Boys.
23 October 2025
The Kenya Wildlife Service confirmed that he had been killed by Olepolos and Osapuk of the Topi Pride, and that his remains, found at Double Crossing, showed no sign of human or livestock involvement.

Legend & Truth

Oloshipa or Orpadan?

The documentary names the brothers Oloborr, Orpadan, Olumina, Lorkulup and Olosiadu, while guides and fans call them Olobor, Oloshipa, Oloimina, Lorkulup and Oloisiadu. Four names match; fans identify Orpadan as Oloshipa, and the newspaper name Olpadan for Olobor’s partner in 2022 supports this.

Who killed him?

A Mara guide wrote that he died fighting one of the Salas Boys; the Kenya Wildlife Service named Olepolos and Osapuk, the Topi Pride males. The Salas Boys are the males that held the Topi Pride, so both accounts may describe the same rivals.

Not killed by people

Three of his brothers were lost in circumstances that fans blame on people. Oloshipa was the exception: the wildlife service and local guides agree that he died the way most male lions do, in a fight with rival males.

The “Black Rock Boys” on his last day

Reports say he was last seen facing the Black Rock Boys and the Salas Boys. Since he was himself a Black Rock Boy, this most likely means younger males from the Black Rock Pride, not his own brothers.