White Lion

Rumors of Pure White Lion in the African oral tradition for centuries, were released, but often heard in African folklore as superstition.It and according to legend, they were children of the sun god sent to earth as a gift . And the only place on earth where it came from actually taking the Timbavati.

According to scientists, these lions are not albinos. Their white color is caused by a recessive gene that chutiya or color inhibitor gene, which is known from the gene of albinism. The chinchilla mutation, a recessive gene gives white lion their unusual colors. She first came to public attention in the 1970s, when Chris McBride's book "The White Lions of Timbavati" published. Described in the book are three lions Temba, Tombi and Vela, who later became the National Zoo in Pretoria, South Africa given.

According to the Global White Lion Protection Site Trust: "There are about 500 white lions worldwide - in the captivity of African tribal elders as the most sacred animals seen on the African continent, this rare of rarities were hunted to extinction in the wild were. by trophy hunters and poachers who pay astronomical sums to shoot them for fun. they also captured a notorious malpractice known as hunted "lion hunting in cans." No law protects them from being wiped off the face of the earth. "

GWLPT states that these animals are not suitable as "endangered" classification. "They are currently listed as Panthera leo, in Appendix II of CITES, and therefore under the classification of a case" endangered species ", ie species not necessarily threatened with extinction today, but that If trade is closely controlled. Appendix II means that the White Lion or their derivatives (such as animal parts) may be sold, traded and hunting.