Coalition · Fate unknown

The Lake Quintet

Also known as The Lake Males · Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

c. 2017 – unknown

Origin: Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

The Lake Quintet are a coalition of five male lions in the Ngorongoro Crater of northern Tanzania, a closed basin whose lions are studied by researchers and known by codes rather than names, such as LK115, LK116 and LK120, nicknamed Titan Junior. One, unusually, kept a blond mane into adulthood, a sharp contrast with his completely dark-maned partners.

The crater’s lions are famously inbred: for many years almost no outside males entered. Followers report that the Quintet’s fathers may have been the Gene-flow coalition, named for being the first outside males to establish themselves in the crater since 1993 and bring in new genes. By around 2020 the five were controlling the Lakette, Lagunita and Munge Mabinti prides.

Very little has been published about them outside research and fan circles, and their later history is not recorded here.

Members

F Known by research codes, including LK115, LK116 and LK120 (Titan Jr.) Five males One kept a blond mane. Record coming soon
5Males
3Prides
1993Last outside males before Gene-flow
1Blond-maned member

Profile

Coalition

Members
Five males
Relationship
Information not availableNot published
Origin / birthplace
Ngorongoro Crater, TanzaniaPossibly sons of the Gene-flow coalition
How it formed
Information not available

Reign

Area
Ngorongoro Crater floor
Prides ruled
Lakette, Lagunita and Munge Mabinti prides
Took over from
Information not available
Reign
Information not availableBy around 2020; dates not published
Territory size
Information not available

End

End of the coalition
Information not availableNot published
Successors
Information not available

Names & Meanings

Lake QuintetCoalition name

Five males, named after the lake area of the crater floor.

LK codesMember designations

Research identification codes, used instead of names.

Story of the Coalition

  1. After 1993

    The Gene-flow coalition entered the crater, reportedly fathering the Quintet.

  2. 2017

    Photographed together as young males.

  3. c. 2020

    Controlling the Lakette, Lagunita and Munge Mabinti prides.

Legend & Truth

A closed population

Ngorongoro’s crater lions are isolated, and inbreeding has been a long-standing concern for researchers; new males bring needed genetic variety.

Photographs

Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon

More photographs

Film

The film of The Lake Quintet is coming soon

Animation

An animated story of The Lake Quintet is coming soon

Sources

Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.

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