Big Cat Diary / Big Cat Live
BBC
The Marsh Pride under Romeo and Clawed.
Fate unknown
Romeo
Also known as Romeo of the Marsh · The Male Who Ousted Notch
Unknown – unknown
Born in Masai Mara, Kenya
Romeo was a male lion of Kenya’s Masai Mara who, with his partner Clawed, ruled the famous Marsh Pride between the reigns of Notch and the Four Musketeers.
Romeo and Clawed came from the Rhino Ridge area of Kenya’s Masai Mara, where with a third male, Pavarotti, they formed a coalition of Ridge Pride males. In 2005 the three killed Light Mane, Notch’s coalition partner, in a fight the film-maker Jonathan Scott later admitted had been provoked when conservationists lured them towards the Marsh. In March or April 2007 they drove Notch himself out of the Marsh Pride, and Pavarotti later disappeared. Romeo and Clawed ruled the Marsh Pride, the pride of the BBC’s Big Cat Diary, from 2007 until the Four Musketeers took over around 2011–2012.
Romeo is not the same lion as Romeo II, who with the male Mohican fought Lolparpit and Olbarnoti for the Moniko Pride from 2013 to 2016. What became of Romeo after the Musketeers’ takeover has not been published.
2Partners left
2007Took the Marsh
~5Years of reign
1Notch ousted
Profile
Identity
- Name
- RomeoThe name he is best known by
- Nicknames
- Information not available
- Origin of the name
- Information not available
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Information not available
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- Information not available
- Birthplace
- Masai Mara, KenyaThe Rhino Ridge area
- Birth pride
- Ridge Pride (reported)
- Father
- Information not available
- Mother
- Information not available
- Siblings
- Information not available
Reign
- Pride king
- Yes, of the Marsh Pride
- Prides ruled
- Marsh Pride
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- About 4–5 years (2007 – c. 2011/12)
- Ruled with
- Romeo or Clawed; earlier also Pavarotti
- Coalition
- Romeo and Clawed
- Home range
- Musiara Marsh and Rhino Ridge, Masai Mara, Kenya
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- Information not availableNot published
- Age at death
- Information not available
- Cause of death
- Information not available
- Place of death
- Information not available
- Burial
- Information not available
Names & Meanings
RomeoName
Name used by guides and the Big Cat Diary team.
Family & Lineage
Not publishedParentsRidge Pride lions.
Romeo of the MarshRomeo?
PartnerClawedRuled the Marsh Pride with him.View record →Former partnerPavarottiDisappeared after the takeover.
OffspringMarsh cubsFathered with Clawed; their descendants include later Mara males.
Life Story
- 2005
With Pavarotti, killed Light Mane, Notch’s partner.
- March – April 2007
Drove Notch out of the Marsh Pride.
- 2007 – c. 2011
Ruled the Marsh Pride; Pavarotti disappeared.
- c. 2011 – 2012
The Four Musketeers took over the Marsh Pride.
Legend & Truth
Two Romeos
Romeo of the Marsh and Romeo II, Mohican’s partner, are different lions.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of Romeo of the Marsh’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of Romeo of the Marsh’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
Sources
- WildFact forum — Romeo, Clawed and Pavarotti
- Spencer Scott Travel — Big Cat Diary legacies
- WildFact forum — Notch coalition history
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.