The legendary Notch and his five sons — Notch II, Long, Ron, Caesar and Grimace — were the most popular coalition in Africa from 2008 to mid-2017.
Notch was first spotted in the Maasai Mara along with his partner back in 2003. A year later, they had taken over the famous Marsh Pride of lions. Their reign was short-lived when his partner was killed in 2005 by two intruding males. They both sired several cubs, eight of which survived: five males and three females.
For two years, Kali was able to fight and protect his territory as a single pride male. In 2007, he was ousted from his territory by three new males. He left his territory, taking his five sons with him, who at that time were only two and a half years old.
The coalition suffered its first loss in 2010, when Long, one of Notch’s sons, disappeared and vanished in the Mara Triangle. The five continued their impressive reign until Notch himself disappeared while patrolling his vast territory in 2013.
A few months later, Grimace vanished during one of his excursions to find new females in an enemy’s territory. The remaining three were still a force to reckon with. In mid-2016, Ron went missing and was killed by the Sand River males.
A year later, Caesar developed a limp due to an abscess in his upper right hind leg. He was last seen lying motionless on the banks of the Mara River close to Lookout Hill.
Notch II continued the same reign as his father. He took his son Spear Boy under his wing and formed a coalition. As of the original article, Notch II was about 15 years old and still living together with his son.
Their legacy will live forever as their genes are passed on to future generations.
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