Other male lion coalitions from Masai Mara

[Tshokwane]

A very helpful piece, considering I knew little about this male, Mohican. Credits to Peter Rettig. Pic credits to Jackson Looseyia.

A very sad and somehow surprising news. One of the strongest males in the Maasai Mara is dead - he was named Mohican in 2008 because he was the only cub of Nyota, the solitary Lioness roaming the eastern and northern sides of Rhino Ridge.


Mohican was only 9 years old, born in 2007. As a lone cub and as a lone nomadic young male lion he survivid against all odds. Coalitions like the Notches and the Musketeers tried to take him out, but he smarted them out and stayed in his natal territory. In 2012 he teamed up with a young male about the same age who moved in from the Mara North Conservancy, this male was named Romeo 2. Both males then took over the Double Crossing Pride end of 2012 and the Enkonyeni Pride in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy end of 2013.

Mohican has had countless fights with other male lions. He and Romeo 2 unsuccessfully tried to take over the Moniko Pride from the legendary OMC Males Olbarnoti & Lolparpit. A battle that lasted over several years. About two years ago Mohican was in a fight with 2 or 3 nomadic males and he sustained a limp he never fully recovered from. Then a year ago he was badly beaten up by 3 of the 5 Rekero Males leaving him with serious injuries. He was written off by the Guides and was not seen for a longer time. But Mohican pulled through! Towards mid of this year he was seen again more frequentely along with Romeo 2, lionesses from their prides and the many youngsters sired by the two Pride Males. Sometime in July or August Mohican was spotted with fresh injuries believed to be the outcome of another battle with Olbarnoti & Lolparpit. Nothing too serious. But in the first half of September Mohican was badly beaten up again by nomadic males. Vets treated him on the 17th of September with a good prognosis he will recover. On the 21st of September he has been chased by two fully grown intruding males but got away after he fell into a hippo pool.

Based on the bits & pieces of information it seemed Mohican was going to recover one more time. And now he passed away without signs of new injuries. On the pic below he does not look weak at all. What was the cause of his sudden death? May be he had sustained also inner injuries? Nobody will figure that out I think.

Mohican was a strong and very brave Male Lion who took all the beatings during the 4 years being a proud Pride Male and protecting his offspring. I think Mohican never turned tail when he was strong & healthy - that is may be why he only was 9 years old.

Rest in peace great boy!

*This image is copyright of its original author

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