Notch Coalition Male Lineage

[Tshokwane]

Reinhard Radke Nature Photography:
Good opportunity to pay tribute to the most impressive lions I ever met – The Notches

The notches were by far the most powerful lion coalition, which roamed the Mara. I first met them in September 2008 in the Mara triangle. They were young, but had a special aura from the beginning. This is from my “Pride” shoot in October 2013, when they were heading to another group of four males in their territory.

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Grimace was ready for the kill, but the intruders preferred to run, what was for them surely the best thing to do.

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Brothers in arms. The fighting power of the notches had for long no match in the Mara and they took over one territory after the other, killing the young, siring offspring and moving on to the next territory. That disturbed heavily the balance in the Mara lion population. In the last years they calmed down, reigning mainly the area around Lookout Hill.

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Few lions were so inspiring like the notches. They were special in many ways. Most other big males depend on the hunting of females to scavenge from them, but the notches were well capable to hunt for themselves and they did!

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The notches even took on hippos, usually in the night. Not just weak or very young: They ambushed strong and healthy animals and brought them down in hour long battles. Here the other three had had their fill and rested away from the kill, while one had to stand guard.

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The notches were very much respected by hyenas, as they didn’t hesitate to kill them. Here the wide ring of shining hyena eyes around stayed well clear of them.

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They guarded the kill for two nights and two days changing the guard every few hours. Plenty was left for the hyenas…

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