The Story of Kio and mom Summer’s Lion Family Lion: Rise of a King

The documentary series "Lion: Rise of a King" tells the story of a young lion named Kio, who was born into the Topi Pride, grew up under the care of his mother, Summer, and eventually became a king. Over the years, the Topi Pride has always been one of my favourite lion prides. This documentary brings back so many memories of the golden days of the Topi Pride. This video is not only a tribute to two great lionesses, Summer and Autumn, but also a chance for those who may not know them very well to get to know these two devoted mothers who gave their entire lives to their pride, and to learn more about the history of the Topi Pride.

Sixteen years ago, four young lionesses left the Marsh Pride with the Marsh Queen, Lispy, in search of a better chance of survival. They settled on the Topi Plains and started a pride of their own. These four sisters were the legendary Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, named after the four seasons. They were the ones who started the story of the Topi Pride. But things were far from easy for this family in the beginning. From struggling to survive in their early days to facing repeated threats from incoming males, territorial battles and crisis after crisis, every step of their journey was incredibly difficult. Even at seven years old, none of the four sisters had successfully raised a cub to adulthood. For a time, the future of this family looked very uncertain. And Summer was undoubtedly the most important founding mother of the Topi Pride. With her exceptional survival skills and abilities as a mother, she almost single-handedly pulled the family out of its difficult situation and gave the pride a real chance to survive and grow. Just look at the Topi Pride today to see how remarkable she was. Apart from Nyota, Djodjo and Vuli, every member of the pride is descended from Summer. Without Summer, there simply wouldn't be the Topi Pride we know today.

Although the documentary mainly focuses on the story of Summer and her son Kio, Autumn's role in the film ends after she brings Summer a kill and helps her through a difficult time. But in fact, Autumn was right there alongside Summer all along, helping to raise the subadults. Even after Summer passed away, Autumn continued to hold things together on her own for some time. The bond between her and her son, Vuli, is also incredibly touching.

Without the devoted care of both Summer and Autumn, I don't think so many of the young Topi lions would have made it to adulthood. They still had so much to learn about surviving on their own, and life was especially challenging for the pride because their territory was so close to local villages, leaving them constantly exposed to human-wildlife conflict.

Today, the young lions these two old queens spent their final strength raising have finally made their mark in the Mara. The Topi Boys have gradually taken over two prides, while the Topi Girls have already had six cubs of their own and established a new family. They are carrying this family's bloodline and stories forward for generations to come.