Living

Ruka

Also known as Ruka of the Inselbergs · The Torn-Eared Inselberg

c. 2013/14 – present

Born in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (believed)

Ruka is one of the five Inselberg Males, the coalition that crossed from Tanzania’s Serengeti into Kenya’s Mara Triangle around 2018. He is recognised by the tears in his right ear, which also gave him his name. In June 2022 his left eye was badly damaged, presumably in a fight with his brother Manywele, but he recovered and stayed with the coalition.

The Inselberg Males take their name from the inselbergs, isolated rocky hills near the Kenya–Tanzania border in the south of the Mara Triangle. The five are believed to have come from the Serengeti, where fans say they were first filmed in the Lamai area around 2017, and were first recorded on the Kenyan side by the Mara Predator Conservation Programme in 2018. By January 2020 all five held the south of the Triangle, ruling the Nasipa, Egyptian Goose and Purungat prides, among others.

After Slit Lip’s death in 2022, Ruka moved east with the other three survivors and, by 2024, across the Mara River. In early 2025 he was injured in a fight with the Kaskaz males, three young males from the Serengeti, but his brothers were nearby and he recovered. With Manywele and Olopolosie reported unseen in 2026, Ruka and Nusu are said to be holding what remains of the coalition’s land.

~8Years in the Triangle

5Males in his coalition

~12Age in 2026

2Serious injuries survived

Profile

Identity

Name: RukaThe name he is best known by
Nicknames: Ruka of the Inselbergs
Origin of the name: Given by Mara Triangle guides, for the tears in his right ear
Sex: Male
Distinguishing features: Tears in the right ear; a badly damaged left eye since June 2022
Weight: Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg

Birth & Family

Born: c. 2013 – 2014Estimated; not recorded
Birthplace: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (believed)Fans say the Lamai area of the northern Serengeti
Birth pride: Information not availableNot known
Father: Information not available
Mother: Information not available
Siblings: Manywele, Ruka, Nusu, Olopolosie and Slit Lip (brothers or close relatives)Their relationship has not been documented

Reign

Pride king: Yes, a pride male of the Inselberg coalition
Prides ruled: Nasipa, Egyptian Goose and Purungat prides, among othersRuled with his brothers
Pride size: Information not available
Reign: About 8 years so far (c. 2018 – present)
Ruled with: His Inselberg brothers
Coalition: The Inselberg Males
Home range: The Mara Triangle, Kenya, from the inselbergs on the border to Serena and Maji Machafu; later across the Mara River
Territory size: Information not available

Death

Died: Information not availableStill living as of 2026
Age at death: Information not availableAbout 12 in 2026
Cause of death: Information not available
Place of death: Information not available
Burial: Information not available

Names & Meanings

RukaName

According to Angama’s guides, from ruruka, which they translate as “tear”, for the tears in his right ear.

Family & Lineage

Not knownParentsTheir parents were never identified; they arrived in the Triangle from the Serengeti as adults.

Inselberg maleRukac. 2013/14 –

BrotherManyweleDark-maned; seen as the leading male after 2022. Reported unseen for months in 2026.View record →BrotherNusuNamed for his half-broken lower tooth.View record →BrotherOlopolosieThe long-unnamed fifth male, probably the one also called Ginger. Reported unseen for months in 2026.View record →BrotherSlit LipCleft upper lip. Killed in July 2022, the first of the five to die.View record →

OffspringCubs of the coalitionFathered with his brothers in the Triangle prides, including the Purungat Pride’s sub-adults, noted in 2025 for being almost maneless. In a coalition, which male fathered which cub is not known.

Life Story

c. 2013 – 2014
Born, believed to be in the Serengeti, Tanzania.
c. 2017
Reportedly filmed with his brothers in the Lamai area of the northern Serengeti.
2018
First recorded with his brothers on the Kenyan side of the border in the Mara Triangle.
January 2020
All five Inselberg males held the south of the Triangle around the inselbergs.
June 2020
Recorded by Angama’s guides with the tears in his right ear that gave him his name.
June 2022
His left eye was badly damaged, presumably in a fight with Manywele.
July 2022
His brother Slit Lip was killed.
2023 – 2024
Moved east with the survivors and began crossing the Mara River.
Early 2025
Injured in a fight with the Kaskaz males; his brothers stayed close and he recovered.
2026
With Manywele and Olopolosie reported missing, he and Nusu were said to be holding the coalition’s ground.