July 19, 2025
Siligi was born in Tanzania and first appeared in the Mara in May 2016 with her sister Maridadi and a brother Olpadan. Olpadan became a world-famous male who became the leader of four unrelated males for 3.5 years, leading the largest coalition ever observed in the Mara. Siligi became famous for being the first female in the Mara to emerge from a den with 7 cubs. Of all seven, she raised one female Naado to independence. In April 2021, she gave birth at Simba area of the Maasai-Mara National Reserve (MMNR), and in the end of June lost one cub to lions, and later in the year one more cub – a female. While raising her three remaining cubs – males, she spent most of the time in Northern Serengeti with short visits to Sopa and the Sand River-Sopa areas of the MMNR. In August 2022, we observed Siligi with her three sons, followed by 4-year-old Jasiri (son of Amani). In three months, she gave birth but lost all cubs within the first month. Her three sons appeared from Serengeti 11 months later – in July 2023 in the Mara Triangle and started exploring the Mara.
By 2025, Siligi’s Sons have firmly established their reign across the entire Mara Conservancy (Triangle) and the borderlands connecting the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the Serengeti. Three strong brothers M144-Osiligi (Hope), M142-Olopono (Notch), and M143-Oldanyet (He Who Breaks Through), share vigilance, hunt and feed together, and defend their vast territory as a unified force. When the prey is relatively small (Impala), they eat in turns to avoid fighting and attracting attention of other predators.
Osiligi leads the coalition’s movements and marking, often deciding when to walk or rest and keeping small kills to himself. Olopono, identified by his notched ear, consistently follows Osiligi’s lead, reinforcing marks and territory. Meanwhile, Oldanyet strives to prove his worth, often lagging behind but strengthening the group’s bonds through grooming and loyalty. Together, they embody the power of kinship and cooperation in one of Africa’s most fiercely contested landscapes.
From 2024 to date, 4 coalitions of males had visited the Mara Triangle, including 3 males from Ol Chorro and two coalitions of two males each, but the Sons of Siligi had become the dominant. As long as they are roaming in the Serengeti, other males, including singletons, have a chance to spend time in the Triangle.
We have included identification sheets here so that you can identify each male in this coalition yourself as you observe them.
© Mara-Meru Cheetah Project (MMCP). All observations, images and videos in this post are our own unless stated otherwise. Please credit appropriately when sharing
