During March 1959, twelve lions with 2 white cubs were seen near Tshokwane in the Kruger Park though unfortunately they were never seen again. The first African White Lion sighting by a European was in the Peru area of Timbavati in the early 1940s by Joyce Mostert, whose family owned large tracks of land in the area. An albino lion cub which was featured in the Milwaukee Journal, May 25, 1935, which was born at the Gay lion farm in El Monte, California ('Albino Lion Born in California'). The first authenticated sightings were in 1928. White Lions at Cincinnati Zoo (Photo by Phil Molyneux)

However, like white tigers, they are an attractive man-perpetuated mutant strain rather than an endangered species in their own right. There are now around 300 white lions in captivity and they have been returned to the wild. While accounts of white lions have been around for centuries, they were dismissed as superstition. Successful pale colour morph would come to predominate in such places. Their habitats included snowy and desert regions whereД«londe and white colours give better camouflage than tawny and the more Is part of the lion's genetic heritage from the days when lions roamedДЇar more widely. Realising the joke, the disappointed crowd eventually dispersed.ДЄn alternative explanation is that the recessive gene for white/blonde There were no captive white lions until late in the 20th century. Tower for centuries the Royal Menagerie having outgrown the tower andД«ecome the Royal Zoological Society's 'Gardens' in Regent's Park). London in accordance with the invitation. Twelve noon on April 1, a large crowd had gathered outside the Tower of Requested that no gratuities be given to wardens or attendants.' By Plausible looking invitation saying 'Tower of London - Admit BearerДЄnd Friend to view annual ceremony of Washing the White Lions on Sunday,ДЄpril 1, 1860. March of that year, numerous people throughout London received a White lions were central to an April Fool's joke in 1860. Whether or not youД«elieve in visiting spaceships, it is now known that radiation can cause This day, white animals are born in Timbavati, including a blue-eyedДЄlbino elephant that was shot by white hunters. With 2 heads, white impala and green-eyed white leopards and lions. Animals with strange deformities were born in that region - cattle TheДЇallen star remained there for some days and then rose back into the She emerged again, she had been restored to health and youth. Woman, was swallowed by its light and received by strange beings. Queen Numbi, who was an elderly and infirm Her people approached, they found it to be a shining ball of metal,Д«righter than the sun. Shining star was seen to fall to the ground, but when Queen Numbi and Oral traditions recalls the appearance of white lions over 400 years agoДuring the reign of Queen Numbi in the region now known as Timbavati. It has been part of African folklore since prehistoric times and according to legend white lions were children of the Sun God, sent to earth as gifts.

White Lions 2: White Lions in Captivity TodayДЄccounts of white lions have been around for centuries in Africa, but have often been dismissed as superstition. White lions may be found in Linda Tucker's book 'Mystery of the White More detailed information on the history and ecology of Thanks are also due to KevinД¬hambers of the Zoological Animal Reproduction Center for further Providing and correcting extensive material, genealogies, historical andД¬urrent information about white lions. I am grateful to Paul McCarthy and others for researching, Colour mutations that wouldДisadvantage a wild big cat are now perpetuated in captivity for the In the past, the obvious reaction to any unusual bigД¬at was to shoot it for the trophy room. White lions, also known as blond lions, are notДЄlbino, but are leucistic and are uncommon in the wild as they lack Common mutations in big cats are albinism (pure white),Д¬hinchilla (white with pale markings), leucism (partial albinism/cream)ДЄnd melanism (black). Mutants are natural variations that occur due to spontaneous geneticД¬hanges or the expression of recessive (hidden) genes through WHITE LIONS - MYTHOLOGY, HISTORY & GENETICS