African Cats
Disneynature
Tells the story of Kali (Notch) and his sons crossing the river to take Fang’s River Pride. Ron is reported to be one of the sons who returned with Notch for the takeover.
Appears as one of Kali’s sons
Deceased
Ron
Also known as Ron of the Notch Boys · The Smallest Notch Son
c. 2005 – 2016
Born in Musiara Marsh area, Masai Mara, Kenya
Ron was a male lion of Kenya’s Masai Mara and one of the five sons of the legendary Notch. He was born into the Marsh Pride, the pride made famous by the BBC’s Big Cat Diary, while his father was its king, and he grew up to be one of the six males of the Notch Coalition, the rare father-and-sons alliance that ruled much of the Mara for about a decade.
When Notch was driven out of the Marsh Pride around 2007, Ron and his brothers, Notch II, Mighty Long, Caesar and Grimace, were only about two and a half years old. They left with their father and, as they grew, took over pride after pride, including Fang’s River Pride at Rekero, the story told in Disneynature’s African Cats. Ron is often described as the closest brother of Caesar, and lion followers remember him as the smallest of the brothers but one of the boldest.
After Notch died and Grimace vanished in 2013, Ron, Caesar and Notch II carried on as a trio, moving south from the Rongai pride area towards Lookout Hill and the Sand River near the Tanzanian border. In mid-2016 Ron went missing and was never seen again. He is reported to have been killed by the Sand River males, a rising rival coalition, at about 11 years old.
~8Years of reign
~11Age at death
9Prides ruled with the coalition
6Males in his coalition
Profile
Identity
- Name
- Ron
- Nicknames
- Ron of the Notch Boys
- Origin of the name
- Information not availableWho named him and why has not been documented
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Dark-maned maleReportedly the smallest of the Notch brothers
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- c. 2005
- Birthplace
- Musiara Marsh area, Masai Mara, KenyaExact birth site not recorded
- Birth pride
- Marsh PrideBorn while his father Notch was the pride male
- Father
- Notch (“Kali”)
- Mother
- Information not availableA Marsh Pride lioness; her identity has not been publicly documented
- Siblings
- Notch II, Mighty Long, Caesar and Grimace (brothers)Reportedly a full brother of Caesar; three sisters were also reported to have survived from the same litters
Reign
- Pride king
- Yes, member of the Notch Coalition
- Prides ruled
- With the Notch Coalition: Paradise, Mugoro, Serena, Rekero, Rekero Breakaway, Rongai, Olkiombo, Maji ya Fisi and Lookout pridesReported list; the coalition held them at different times
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- About 8 years (c. 2008 – 2016)
- Ruled with
- Notch and his four brothers; from 2013 Caesar and Notch II
- Coalition
- The Notch Coalition
- Home range
- Eastern Masai Mara and the Rekero area; from late 2013 Lookout Hill south to the Sand River
- Territory size
- Information not availableClaims of more than 1,000 km² for the Notch Coalition are not verified
Death
- Died
- Mid-2016He went missing; no body was reported found
- Age at death
- About 11 years
- Cause of death
- Reportedly killed by the Sand River malesSome lion followers have also suggested poisoning; neither has been confirmed
- Place of death
- Information not availableSouthern Masai Mara, Kenya; exact place not recorded
- Burial
- Information not available
Names & Meanings
RonName
The name given to him by guides and lion followers in the Mara. Who first named him, and why, has not been documented.
Ron of the Notch BoysPopular name
Used by photographers and guides to tell him apart from other Mara lions, including the younger male known as Ron II.
The Smallest Notch SonTitle
Lion followers reportedly described him as the smallest of Notch’s sons, though not the least bold.
Family & Lineage
FatherNotchAlso called Kali. King of the Marsh Pride and leader of the Notch Coalition. Died in 2013 at about 14.View record →
LionessMotherA Marsh Pride lioness whose identity has not been publicly documented.
Ron of the Notch BoysRonc. 2005 – 2016
BrotherNotch IIThe last surviving son of the original coalition. Later formed a coalition with his own son, Spear Boy.View record →BrotherMighty LongAlso called Long. Disappeared in the Mara Triangle around 2010.View record →BrotherCaesarReportedly his full brother. Died in 2017, a year after Ron.View record →BrotherGrimaceThe youngest brother. Vanished in rival territory in 2013, a few months after their father.View record →Believed descendantRon IIA younger Mara male named after Ron for his likeness. He belongs to the next generation of Notch descendants, but whether Ron fathered him has not been confirmed.View record →
OffspringOther cubsThe Notch males fathered many cubs across the Mara, but which brother fathered each is usually not known.
Life Story
- c. 2005
Born in the Marsh Pride, one of five sons of Notch, the pride’s king.
- c. 2007
Romeo and Clawed drove Notch from the Marsh Pride. Ron, about two and a half years old, left with his father and brothers.
- 2008
Seen with his father and brothers in the BBC’s Big Cat Live.
- c. 2010
The coalition took the River Pride at Rekero from Fang, the story told in African Cats. His brother Mighty Long disappeared.
- February 2012
The Notch males were reported to control five prides in the eastern Mara.
- 2013
His father Notch died, and his brother Grimace vanished a few months later. Ron, Caesar and Notch II carried on as a trio.
- September 2013
The three brothers reportedly began moving south from the Rongai pride area towards Lookout Hill and the Sand River.
- 2014
Reportedly spent most of the year in the south of the reserve, mating with the lionesses there.
- Early 2016
Reportedly photographed with fresh battle wounds, guarding a hippo kill while his brothers slept nearby.
- Mid-2016
Went missing and was never seen again; reportedly killed by the Sand River males.
- 2017
His brother Caesar died, leaving Notch II as the last of the original coalition.
Legend & Truth
The first of the last three to fall
After 2013 only Ron, Caesar and Notch II remained. Ron’s disappearance in 2016 is often seen as the start of the final chapter of the Notch Coalition.
Reported, not confirmed
Much of Ron’s life, including his death, is known from guides, photographers and lion followers rather than published research, so these details should be read as reports.
Photographs
Film
The film of Ron of the Notch Boys’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of Ron of the Notch Boys’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
Big Cat Live
BBC
Notch was filmed with his sons after losing the Marsh Pride.
Features the Notch sons
The Legend of Notch Coalition
YouTube
The story of Notch and his five sons: Notch II, Mighty Long, Ron, Caesar and Grimace.
Sources
- Otu Safaris — The Legendary Notch & His Five Sons
- Shammah Wonders Safaris (Medium)
- Apex Photo Safaris — Notch Boys
- WildFact forum — Notch Coalition
- Images of Wildlife — Olkeju Rongai cubs and Notch boys (2013)
- Safina Lion Conservation
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.