Scarface: Story of the Most Famous Lion Ever & His Brothers
YouTube
An independent documentary on the Musketeer coalition: Scarface, Sikio, Hunter and Morani.
Deceased
Sikio
Also known as The Musketeer · Masai Mara, Kenya
c. 2007 – c. 2020/21
Born in Masai Mara, Kenya
Sikio was one of the Four Musketeers, the four related males, Scarface, Morani, Sikio and Hunter, who grew up together in Kenya’s Masai Mara and ruled the Marsh and Paradise prides for the better part of a decade. Like Morani and Hunter, he lived in the shadow of his famous brother Scarface, and far less has been written about his own life.
He took part in the coalition’s takeover of the Marsh Pride in 2011–2012 and of the Paradise Pride in 2016. After Hunter died, Sikio was one of the three remaining brothers holding ground along the Mara River, and in 2020 he was still regularly seen beside Scarface around the Malaika and Ashnil camps.
Sikio later died after a fight with rival males, leaving only Scarface and Morani. His death came before Scarface’s in June 2021, but the exact date and the identity of the males who fought him have not been published.
~8Years of reign
~13Age at death
—Lionesses in his pride
4Males in his coalition
Profile
Identity
- Name
- Sikio
- Nicknames
- Information not available
- Origin of the name
- Information not availableSikio means ear in Swahili; who named him and why has not been documented
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Information not available
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- c. 2007Some sources give 2008
- Birthplace
- Masai Mara, KenyaExact birth site not recorded
- Birth pride
- Information not available
- Father
- Believed to be one of the Notch malesNot formally confirmed
- Mother
- Information not available
- Siblings
- Scarface, Morani and Hunter (brothers / related males)
Reign
- Pride king
- Yes, member of the Four Musketeers coalition
- Prides ruled
- Marsh Pride (from 2011–2012), Paradise Pride (from 2016)
- Pride size
- Information not availableThe Paradise Pride had around nine lionesses with cubs in 2016
- Reign
- About 8–9 years (c. 2012 – c. 2020)
- Ruled with
- Scarface, Morani and Hunter
- Coalition
- The Four Musketeers
- Home range
- Musiara Marsh, Paradise Plains and the Mara River, around the Malaika and Ashnil camps
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- c. 2020 – 2021After September 2020 and before Scarface’s death in June 2021
- Age at death
- About 13 years
- Cause of death
- Natural: died after a fight with rival male lions
- Place of death
- Information not availableMasai Mara, Kenya; exact place not recorded
- Burial
- Information not available
Names & Meanings
SikioName
The Swahili word for ear. Why he was given this name has not been documented.
The MusketeerTitle
As a member of the Four Musketeers coalition.
Family & Lineage
Believed fatherThe Notch malesGuides believe the Musketeers were fathered by the Notch males. This is not formally confirmed.View record →
LionessMotherHer identity has not been publicly documented.
The MusketeerSikioc. 2007 – c. 2020/21
BrotherScarfaceThe most famous of the four. Died of old age in June 2021.View record →BrotherMoraniThe last of the four. Disappeared around 2023.View record →BrotherHunterThe first of the four to die, in 2017.View record →Cubs of the coalitionOffspringThe Musketeers fathered cubs in the prides they ruled. Individual sons of Sikio have not been formally documented.
Life Story
- c. 2007
Born in the Masai Mara, one of four related males who grew up together.
- 2011 – 2012
With his brothers, took the Marsh Pride from Romeo and Clawed.
- 2016
The Four Musketeers took over the Paradise Pride.
- 2017
Hunter died, leaving three brothers.
- 2020
Still seen regularly with Scarface along the Mara River near the Malaika and Ashnil camps.
- c. 2020 – 2021
Died after a fight with rival males.
Legend & Truth
Story, not science: “the strategist”
Some safari websites describe Sikio as the coalition’s strategist and give each brother a role. These labels are storytelling; no research or film records such roles.
The quiet Musketeer
Because guides and photographers focused on Scarface, few details of Sikio’s own life were ever published, including the exact date of his death.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of The Musketeer’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of The Musketeer’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
Scarface: The 4 Musketeers
YouTube
The story of one of the most famous lion coalitions of the Masai Mara.
Scarface: The Real Lion King
BBC Wildlife Magazine — Jonathan & Angela Scott
A cover story on Scarface, the Four Musketeers and the lions of the Masai Mara.
Sources
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.