Characteristics
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span: in the wild 10-16 years, in captivity 20-25 years
Status: severely endangered
Birth rate: 110 days
Scientific name: Panthera leo krugeri
Evolution: The evolution of the White Lion is a mystery. Scientists don't know for sure what conditions in the Timbavati caused what could have been a small group of isolated tawny lions to turn their fur white, there is no other place in the world were this phenomena can be seen.
A little of our story..
- The first reported sightings of the White Lion occurred in the 1930s but were said to be as pure fantasy. It was only in 1975 that Chris McBride (animal biologist) officially verified their existence thanks to picture evidence
after his family stumbled across with what they described as a miracle: white lions with coats as pure as the whitest snow. It is said that during this discovery there were 3 cubs found and taken away for "protection". They were named "Temba" (which means hope in Zulu), the girl cub "Tombi" and the male cub was named "Vela" (which means surprise in Zulu). Vela looked like a normal lion but it actually was heterozygous meaning that he also carried the white genes even thought he showed the normal ones. There was another cub found in 1796 it was named "Phuma" (out of the ordinary in Zulu) but he did not survive.
Diet: Carnivore
Average life span: in the wild 10-16 years, in captivity 20-25 years
Status: severely endangered
Birth rate: 110 days
Scientific name: Panthera leo krugeri
Evolution: The evolution of the White Lion is a mystery. Scientists don't know for sure what conditions in the Timbavati caused what could have been a small group of isolated tawny lions to turn their fur white, there is no other place in the world were this phenomena can be seen.
A little of our story..
- The first reported sightings of the White Lion occurred in the 1930s but were said to be as pure fantasy. It was only in 1975 that Chris McBride (animal biologist) officially verified their existence thanks to picture evidence
after his family stumbled across with what they described as a miracle: white lions with coats as pure as the whitest snow. It is said that during this discovery there were 3 cubs found and taken away for "protection". They were named "Temba" (which means hope in Zulu), the girl cub "Tombi" and the male cub was named "Vela" (which means surprise in Zulu). Vela looked like a normal lion but it actually was heterozygous meaning that he also carried the white genes even thought he showed the normal ones. There was another cub found in 1796 it was named "Phuma" (out of the ordinary in Zulu) but he did not survive.