Grimace2 and Ron2: the copy of the legendary Notch lions
Matira Safari — Monika Braun
Photographs of Ron II and Grimace II near Lookout Hill, shown beside older photographs of Ron and Grimace to compare the likeness.
Fate unknown
Ron II
Also known as Ron 2 · The Image of Ron
Unknown – unknown
Born in Masai Mara, Kenya
Ron II is a male lion of Kenya’s Masai Mara and one of the younger males of the Notch bloodline, the family of the legendary Notch and his five sons. He is known almost entirely through his coalition partner, Grimace II, and through the uncanny resemblance that gave both of them their names: guides and camp staff thought the pair looked so much like the Notch brothers Ron and Grimace that they named them after the older lions.
The two males first became well known in April 2017, when they spent a whole night fighting Scarface and Sikio of the Four Musketeers over a dead hippo near Matira Bush Camp. By morning the young males held the kill and Sikio had a large wound on his leg. Guides called them the new Notches. In January 2018 the pair were seen chasing a male known as Yellow from the Lookout Hill area, and Matira Safari published photographs placing Ron II beside a 2015 photograph of Ron to show how alike the two lions were.
Ron II is often listed among Notch’s grandsons, together with Caesar II, Blue Eyes and Dongo, males who were reported around 2023 to control four prides in the Mara. Whether Ron himself was his father has never been confirmed; his name records a likeness, not a proven family tie. His birth, his prides and his later life have not been documented in detail, and what happened to him is not known.
—Years of reign
—Age at death
—Lionesses in his pride
2Males in his coalition
Profile
Identity
- Name
- Ron II
- Nicknames
- Ron 2, Ron2; with Grimace II, “the new Notches”
- Origin of the name
- Named for his likeness to Ron, a son of NotchWho first used the name has not been documented
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Face and mane strikingly similar to Ron’sThe likeness that gave him his name
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- Information not availableNot documented; he was already a young adult male by April 2017
- Birthplace
- Masai Mara, KenyaExact birth site not recorded
- Birth pride
- Information not available
- Father
- Information not availableBelieved to be one of the Notch males; whether Ron was his father has not been confirmed
- Mother
- Information not available
- Siblings
- Information not availableWhether his partner Grimace II is his brother has not been documented
Reign
- Pride king
- ReportedlyListed around 2023 among Notch’s grandsons controlling four Mara prides
- Prides ruled
- Information not availableWhich prides he ruled has not been documented
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- Information not available
- Ruled with
- Grimace II
- Coalition
- Information not available
- Home range
- Lookout Hill area and around Matira Bush Camp, Masai MaraWhere he was seen in 2017–2018
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- Information not availableNo record of his death has been 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
Ron IIName
Given by guides and camp staff because he looked remarkably like Ron, one of Notch’s five sons. His coalition partner was named Grimace II for the same reason.
Ron 2 / Ron2Spelling variants
The same name written with an ordinary number, used by Matira Bush Camp and by lion followers online.
The new NotchesShared nickname
Used by guides for Ron II and Grimace II when they first appeared, because of their resemblance to the Notch brothers.
The Image of RonTitle
For the likeness to Ron that gave him his name.
Family & Lineage
Believed fatherThe Notch malesHe is described as a grandson of Notch, which would make one of Notch’s sons his father. Which son has never been confirmed.View record →
LionessMotherHer identity has not been publicly documented.
Ron 2Ron IIUnknown – unknown
Coalition partnerGrimace IINamed for his likeness to Grimace. Whether the two are brothers has not been documented.
Not documentedOffspringNo cubs of Ron II have been individually documented.
Life Story
- Not documented
Born in the Masai Mara into the Notch bloodline; the year and pride have not been recorded.
- April 2017
With Grimace II, fought Scarface and Sikio through the night over a dead hippo near Matira Bush Camp. By morning the two young males held the kill, and Sikio had a large wound on his leg.
- 2017
Guides named the pair Ron II and Grimace II for their resemblance to the Notch brothers, and called them the new Notches.
- 9 January 2018
Chased the male Yellow from the Lookout Hill area with Grimace II, then rested near Matira Bush Camp for the whole day.
- c. 2023
Reported as one of Notch’s grandsons, with Caesar II, Blue Eyes and Dongo, controlling four prides in the Mara.
- Later
No published record of his later life or death.
Legend & Truth
Two lions called Ron
Ron II is not Ron. Ron was one of Notch’s five sons and went missing in 2016. Ron II is a younger male named after him, first seen around the time Ron disappeared.
A likeness, not a proven family tie
Ron II and Grimace II were named because they looked like Ron and Grimace. That suggests, but does not prove, that they are sons of those brothers. No genetic testing has been done.
Reported, not confirmed
Almost everything known about Ron II comes from camp reports, guides and lion followers rather than published research, so these details should be read as reports.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of Ron 2’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of Ron 2’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
The Legend of Notch Coalition
YouTube
The story of Notch and his five sons, including Ron, the lion Ron II was named after.
About his familyWatch
Sources
- Matira Safari — Grimace2 and Ron2 (January 2018)
- WildFact forum — Coalitions of Masai Mara (April 2017)
- Shammah Wonders Safaris (Medium)
- Otu Safaris — The Legendary Notch & His Five Sons
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.