Introducing the White Lions
Most people think of lions as being tawny, which is a light to medium golden color. And, most lions are tawny. However, not all lions are.
Sometimes, lions in the wild are born white. This is a rare occurrence, but it does happen. There are almost no white lions currently living in the wild. About 500 of them live in captivity.
White lions are not another species of big cats. They are simply a color variation of the regular lion. White lions are also not an endangered species.
White lions occur because of genetic makeup. It is a rare color mutation in the gene that creates them. When both the mother and the father both carry the recessive gene, it is more likely for a white lion cub to be born.
The reason white lions are so rare in the wild is really very simple. These lions have a harder time hunting prey because they are more easily seen. The animal can’t blend in with its surroundings, and cannot get enough to eat.
Lions and other animals who have genetic mutations also have a higher rate of deformities and illnesses. Many of them do not live to adulthood, which means that not many of the white lion cubs live long enough to reproduce.
There is an area of Africa where white lion cubs have been born to wild prides. Two such cubs were spotted in 1975 at a South African reserve. These cubs were captured and sent to a zoo. They started the line of the about 500 white lion cubs in captivity today.
Most of the white lions in captivity have jobs. They live in zoos, travel with circuses, and roam farms and private reserves.
Breeders have started a serious concern and debate over the white lion. Since they know how to breed more white lions, they are preventing the white lion’s gene mutation from becoming extinct since their occurrence is so rare in nature.
The white lion only exists because they are bred to occur by knowledgeable breeders. However, because the lions in captivity are related, there could be problems. It is known that when tigers are inbred, serious health problems and deformities can and do occur. These problems range from distorted spines to mental impairments. Zoologists and scientists are worried breeders may be creating too many health issues for the big cats just to get a white one.
Besides being a money making attraction, another controversy centers around the release of white lions born in captivity to the wild. Many people think this is a good idea. They believe nature would balance itself out. However, white lions born in captivity often suffer health problems associated with inbreeding. If they were to be released into the wild, they may pass their health problems on in the wild population.
For now, though, it is more important to protect all lions than it is to release the white lions back into the wild. That way, there will be lions for generations to enjoy and appreciate.
