Notch Coalition Male Lineage

[Ngala]

Photo and information credits: Rich Smith
"Last Man Standing
I am sure anyone that has been following the Notches knows the odds are no longer in Notch ll's favor with the passing of Caesar. 
What keeps me sane watching these old Kings is knowing the quality of life they lived. Notch ll has lived a long wild and free life, and I would say a very good life. He's already defied many odds that are stacked against any lion born in the wild. The mortality rate for lion cubs is very high, add other factors such as conflict and encroachment and the odds of survival goes down further. When a young male lion survives to 2-3 years old, his only mission (aside from survival) is to become a pride male. Notch ll has already defied and accomplished what seems like nearly impossible odds.
Fortunately for Notch ll, he had a big advantage after leaving his maternal pride with 4 brothers/cousins, then to add to that, Notch himself hooking up with the 5 Notches. 
The story of the Notches is almost impossible to believe, but we sometimes take these things for granted in thinking it's a normal lion life while seeing the Notches daily lives unfold when really there is a lot more details to the story we don't often think about till their nearing the final chapters of their lives. The story of the notches is more than just a story, it's more like a novel with a million pages!
And like any novel, it is not over till the book ends....
They will never know how many will cry over them, nor will they ever know how many people were completely memorized by them, especially while in their presence. They have brought joy to millions of people around the globe. They have left me with memories that I will never forget no matter how much times goes by. I've been lucky to meet many lions in the Mara, no other males left me in a state of pure awe than the Notches."

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply