In 2014, the first white cubs were once again born in the Kruger National Park a region in which there is no lion trophy hunting, so this adds hope for the long-term survival of White Lions. The unusual colouring comes from a mutant colour-inhibitor gene, and to make a white cub, both mum and dad, white or tawny, must carry it in their DNA. 1. The white lion is yellow blonde to almost white in color because of a rare gene mutation. 5. "White Lion Animal Facts." According to the belief, its genetics has always been in that of normal lions. Most lions are social animals and live in packs called prides. White lions are considered sacred around their natural habitat in the Timbavati region, although they have previously faced extinction in the wild. 5. But never the jungle. Here are the 10 facts about Lions you should know. As of now, the little number that is left of them in the wild is all thanks to reintroduction programs that were implemented as a measure of stabilizing their population and prevent the hunting of these animals. Being a predatory cat, they rely on their size and muscle mass. Spending 16-20 hours of the day sleeping or resting, lions are the laziest . They have sharp teeth and claws that allow them to attack and kill their prey. The lions found in west and central Africa are more closely related to the Asiatic lions than those found in southern and east Africa. Regina Bailey is a board-certified registered nurse, science writer and educator. The White Lions have integrated with wild golden lions, and now several prides now roam freely in their ancestral heritage lands. This is a great step forward, but the Global White Lion Protection Trust will continue to campaign until this is enshrined in national legislation. White Lions are not albinos, but a genetic rarity unique to one endemic region on the globe: The UNESCO Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere region. White lions are carnivores, and they eat a variety of herbivorous animals. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. But still, gotta thank Disney for giving us The Lion King. creative tips and more. The rare recessive gene responsible for leucism is a color inhibitor that causes the lion to lack darker pigmentation in some areas, but retain pigmentation in the eyes, nose, and ears. This is a glitch in the genetic coding for color which causes either a reduction in or complete lack of pigmentation cells. The Global White Lion Protection Trust is currently pushing for the classification to be moved to Endangered. The Genetic Marker that determines the unique colouration of White Lions was finally identified in October 2013, after a 7 year study initiated by the Global White Lion Protection Trust, partnering 7 different countries. Your email address will not be published. Lions mostly live on savannah and grasslands. 4# The most common subspecies are the Asiatic lion and the Barbary lion. The biggest threat to white lions is uncontrolled trading and hunting of lions. The ship brought the first Africans to the English colony of Virginia in 1619, a year before the arrival of the Mayflower in New England.Though the African captives were sold as indentured servants, the event is regarded as the start of . The heaviest lion on record weighed an amazing 375 kg (826 lb). Purely to make money out of them. The Genetic Marker that makes White Lions unique has not yet been identified by science. Maybe youve heard of these enchanting big cats, or have previously thought of them as being extinct or fantasized? On average, male lions weigh 190kg (almost 30 stone) and females weigh 126kg (almost 20 stone). Here are 36 fun facts about lions which are sure to fascinate you! free printable realistic white lion coloring pages. Lions have a fast-working digestive system, which allows them to gorge themselves and then go for seconds shortly after. The female, or lioness, is smaller, with a body length of 1.5 metres, a shoulder height of 0.9-1.1 metres, and a weight of 120-180 kg. Female lions typically live longer than males, living up to 21 years old. Lions roar to communicate their position to other prides. A.S., Nursing, Chattahoochee Technical College. These cookies do not store any personal information. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In order for there to be a chance that some of the offspring will be white lions, the parents either need to be white lions or carry the rare white lion gene. White Lion Animal Facts. The white lion belongs to the same family as the South African lion, so it can be assumed that their speed matches that of white lions. For a male, that's the same as 70 cans of cat food! Diet 5. https://www.thoughtco.com/white-lion-4767233 (accessed November 9, 2022). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He believes that the recessive allele in the lion gene pool in the area is probably a result of poor or dysfunctional pride structures. I strongly recommend this book written by Linda Tucker if you are interested in learning more about them, their history, and what they represent to many who call them the Lions of God. During confrontations with others, the mane makes the lion look larger. White lions get their colorisation from a recessive gene. A male needs 7kg or more a day. The manes of male white lions are usually yellowish blonde or white in color, as are the tips of their tail. Reproduction 8. The biggest threat to white lions and all lions, in general, is the uncontrolled trading and hunting, other threats include loss of habitat, and loss of prey base. White lions are part of the general classification of lions, Panthera leon. The weigh is from 1,600 to 4,000 kg (3,500 to 8,800 lb). We're all about safari and celebrating wild Africa. She's good at writing about sports and sporting heroes. In 2004, they reintroduced the first white lion into the wild in Central Kruger Park in South Africa. Fun Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Facts For Kids. A full-grown male is about 1.8-2.1 metres (6-7 feet) long, excluding the 1-metre tail; he stands about 1.2 metres high at the shoulder and weighs 170-230 kg (370-500 pounds). Not really, the Strange Naked Mole-Rat is a Rodent, Interesting Facts About The Majestic Snowy Owl, 12 Indoor Air Purifying Plants (Pet-Friendly Plants), Facts About Orcas | Where To See Orcas in the Wild, Facts About The Emperor Penguin of Antarctica. The lion is listed as vulnerable on the . Do African Animals Get Drunk From Marula Fruit? In 2012, PBS released a series called White Lions, which followed the survival of two female white lion cubs and the struggles they experienced. Second Largest Cat. Female lions are the largest female cats in the world. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Where Do They Live and More Fun Facts, Quick Facts | The Ring Tailed Lemur of Madagascar, Black Jaguar Animal Facts | A Jaguar With A Gene Mutation, Facts About The Endangered Red Panda You Should Know, Facts -African Wild Dogs Have Four Toes and More Facts You Didnt Know, Cute Rat? Their color is rare 3. Most white lions are born in captivity in breeding camps. African people used to believe that white lions are messengers of God and they represent purity. In addition, researchers transported the animals to new destinations to study them. Source: britannica.com, GIF: makeagif.com. 9. . Fascinated by these incredible lions? Their ancestral homeland, Timbavati being one of them. Lions have terrific night vision. She has a PostGraduate Diploma in sports management, which enhanced her sports journalism skills, as well as a degree in journalism and mass communication. With the ban on trophy hunting in the Timbavati region and surrounding nature preserves, the first white cubs were born in the area in 2006. However, they went extinct from the wild a while ago and they are now mostly kept in wildlife parks and nature reserves around the world. They need plenty of space 6. Chris McBride, who discovered and first documented the white lions in the Timbavati, holds his own opinion. Since 2008, 11 white lion cubs have been spotted in and around the reserves of Timbavati and Umbabat. Communication 11. Here are 20 amazing tiger facts. Correcting misinformation about the White Lions. The first white lion was spotted in this region in 1938, but it was not until the 1970s that these animals were brought to public attention. Bailey, Regina. Timbavati holds 5,000 acres of land in which the white lions are free to roam and mingle with fellow lions. A typical head-to-body length for males is from 184 to 208 cm (7282 in) and for females is from 160 to 184 cm (6372 in). As evident by their name, the white lion is a lion species native to the Kruger and Timbavati region of South Africa. Here are some general facts you may not have known about the prides. [1] Baby sea lions weigh about 13-20 pounds and are 2.5 feet long when they are born. Lion diet comprises of 11-15 lb meat every day. Male lions defend the pride's territory while females do most of the hunting. The head and body length is from 3.4 to 4 m (11.2 to 13.1 ft), with the tail adding another 70 cm (28 in) and the shoulder height is 160 to 186 cm (5.25 to 6.1 ft). The greatest population of white lions is in zoos where they are deliberately bred for color. They tend to spend 2 hours walking and 50 minutes eating. Let's dive into some white lion facts that are specifically female white lion facts! 5. One of the prides includes two young male white lions. Since white lions are included in the general classification for lions (Panthera leo), they are designated as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These lions are considered sacred in these communities. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. African lions are the most social of all big cats and live together in groups or "prides.". 3. The Good to Know White Lion Facts. The cubs look pretty similar to adults. Theyre extremely rare to come across because both parents need to possess this genetic mutation. Lions are the most social of felines and can live with up to 25 individuals. After being hunted to extinction in the wild, white lions were reintroduced in 2004. This lion also uses tactile means to communicate with its offspring and other white lions as well. They are a true rarity among other lions and they look almost regal in their appearance, which, unfortunately, attracted hunters and caused their numbers to deteriorate. Your email address will not be published. The lifespan of a lion depends on many factors, including genetics, health, nutrition, and stress. The lion diet is primarily meat. Tiger is the biggest living cat in the world. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Ask your parents to check out Nat Geo Kids magazine! White lions are members of the general lion family, the only exception being the rarity of their gene that impacts their coloration. White lions have a rare recessive trait that causes their white skin coloration. Rhinos come in variety of shapes and sizes. Lions have a second eyelid known as a nictitating membrane. And hopefully, go on to mating with other female white lions and continuing this beautiful phenomenon naturally. The White Lion Trust has successfully re-introduced white lions into their natural habitat in a carefully phased, ground-breaking scientific program. Currently, there are 11 known white lions in South Africa living in the wild. Tambako the Jaguar / Moment / Getty Images. Both are capable of eating up to 15% of their body weight during just one meal. The Global White Lion Protection Trust tirelessly campaigns to have this deplorable, bureaucratic listing revoked. Wild cats, in general, possess a danger, and the white lion animal is no different. They can live up to 20 and 25 years in captivity. So the number of white lions are also very less. The white lions in Timbavati are no more dangerous than your usual lion. Whereas albinos have pink or red coloration to their eyes and noses, white lions have blue or gold eyes, black features on their noses, eye-liner, and dark patches behind their ears. Submit. Appearance 2. 8. Currently, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) deems lions as vulnerable. White lions are leucistic, which means they have a rare gene that causes them to have less melanin and other pigments than non-leucistic animals. The facts about white lions are as surprising as those of the Bengal Tigers and Siberian Tigers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Jaguar vs Leopard - Top 15 Key Differences. The heaviest rhino is the Indian/greater-one-horned rhino. An adult male can average around 225 kilograms. And it is perhaps the most special, and incredible of all experiences. Two gene-carrying tawny lions could theoretically produce a white cub, but the chances are higher if both animals are white, hence many zoos' captive breeding programmes. These lions were hunted to extinction in the wild and recently reintroduced by a non-profit organization established to protect white lions. The king of all kings In the Timbavati region of South Africa, where the white lion was first spotted, the Sepedi and Tsonga communities consider them to be "the most sacred animal on the African continent". Check your inbox for your latest news from us. Skilled hunters 6. Habitat of White lions 4. It is estimated that there are just 13 of them left in the wild. None of the cubs, including the tawny ones, survived due to the killing of the dominant male lions of both prides for trophies. Sea lions are brown, bark loudly, "walk" on land using large flippers, and they have visible ear flaps. Additionally, programs that wish to breed white lions for profit modify their genes. Female lions usually range from 260 to 360 pounds, some are bigger! And a 100% chance the offspring will be a white cub if both parents are white lions. Her work has been featured in "Kaplan AP Biology" and "The Internet for Cellular and Molecular Biologists.". However, it is an indication that something has gone wrong, genetically. Most female lions are about 9 feet long. 2. In total, they can sleep for 16 to 20 hours a day. By completing this form you are agreeing to receive email communications from the Global White Lion Protection Trust. And much of that came with Cooper Rush at quarterback; Dak Prescott is. Low Impact Living. They are indigenous to the Greater Timbavati region in southern Africa and are currently protected at the Central Kruger Park in South Africa. Although they live longer, their lives arent as happy, nor successful, as out in their natural homelands. Lions are not "king of the jungle" Despite being dubbed as the "king of the jungle", lions very rarely enter a closed forest, and they are totally absent in rainforests of the world. This does not influence our choices. Hunting and global interest, however, led to their brief extinction in the wild. 5.9K subscribers 10 Amazing Facts about White Lions Music by http://incompetech.com 1.White Lions are not albinos, but a genetic rarity unique to one endemic region on the globe: the. 4. Its tough for baby white lions to make it in their first year of life. And, they did not come into the publics attention until the 1970s, with the publishing of a book authored by Chris McBride titled The White Lions of Timbavati. These lions also need a lot of space to roam around in, which you will not be able to provide in a home setting, not to mention the fact that they need a lot of food which is not something that an average pet owner can easily provide. The IUCN designated the entire general classification of lions vulnerable with a decreasing population. Yet, places like Timbavati Private Game Reserve have been the only place in which the lions occur without human interference. In their natural habitat, white lions were able to camouflage themselves and were just as much of an apex predator as wild tawny lions. Their preferred habitats are arid plains, woods, and savanna grasslands in Africa. Just like all lions, they have powerful teeth and claws. Scientists believe that white lions have been around for centuries; however they were first seen by humans about four hundred years ago in the Timbavati region of South Africa. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Healthy populations of these species are ideal for lions . For centuries tribes in Africa have deemed this animal sacred and allowed them to thrive in the wild. The white lion is legendary, long alluded to in ancient texts going back some 400 years. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. If both parents are tawny and carry the gene, there is a 25% chance the offspring will be a white cub; if one parent is a white lion and the other is tawny with the gene, there is a 50% chance the offspring will be a white cub; and if both parents are white lions, there is a 100% chance the offspring will be a white cub. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Here are some general facts you may not have known about the prides. White Lions are a symbol of leadership and pride to local communities in the Timbavati region. Required fields are marked *. Weights for adult lions range between 150-250 kg (330-550 lb) for males and 120-182 kg (264-400 lb) for females. Lions are the largest cats in Africa by far and on a global scale, the only cat that can become larger than lions is the Siberian tiger. Common Names: White lion Order: Carnivora Basic Animal Group: Mammalia Size: Up to 10 feet long and 4 feet high for males and up to 6 feet long and 3.6 feet for females Weight: Up to 530 pounds for males and up to 400 pounds for females Life Span: 18 years Diet: Small birds, reptiles, hoofed mammals Habitat: Savannah, woodland, desert Currently, lions in South Africa have been classified byCITES(Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species) and the IUCN as a species of least concern. What White Lions Eat. Some argue that white lions have a disadvantage compared to their tawny family members when hunting. Well, this isnt necessarily the case, theyre just as effective as their tawny-colored family members. All Rights Reserved. White Lions are very rare lions found in the grater Timbavati region in South Africa. The white lion is adorable with its blonde to whitish color caused by a rarity in its gene pool, and its blue and gold eyes. This is why some people may think that white lions dont exist. In captivity, you can expect white lions to live up to 20 years. They are the parents of 8 cubs: the first 3 were born in 2012, the next 5 a year later. A male white lion weighs up to 530 pounds and a female up to 400 pounds. White rhinoceros can live to be up to 50 years old. Habitat: Savannas, Grasslands, Scrub, Open Woodlands: . Males are simply called male white lions, while females are called female white lions. Many conservationists believe that this is a dangerous and harmful practice. For a long time, it was assumed that white lions are indigenous to this part of the world only. The white lion belongs to the same family as the South African lion, so it can be assumed that their speed matches that of white lions. Finally, after the Global White Lion Protection Trust presented in South African Parliament in 2019, calling for a moratorium on the commercial trophy hunting of lions in the private nature reserves bordering the Kruger National Park, a temporary non-hunting of lions policy has been adopted. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Despite this, the males eat first. You can see the fabled white lions of the Timbavati, as documented decades ago by Chris McBride. Grasslands, plains and woodlands are their main habitats. You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable realistic white lion coloring pages. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. These cubs are pretty vulnerable at birth and they depend on their mothers for some time before they can become independent and hunt on their own. Lions Can Jump As High As 6 Feet Tall Lions tend to vary in size depending on their environment and area, lions in southern Africa tend to be about 5 percent heavier than those in East Africa. They hunt in packs and share their prey. 2. Viewing the white lions simply as vulnerable can be detrimental to them, as they do not receive full protection. This opinion doesnt detract from the incredible beauty of the white lions, nor their health and ability to reach maturity. Solitary animal 10. The Global White Lion Protection Trust has initiated a scientific study to conclusively investigate the ecology of White Lions in their natural habitat, as part of a PhD study conducted by specialist lion ecologist, Jason A. Turner. It also moistens the eye while maintaining vision. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. White lions are symbols of leadership and pride to local communities in the Timbavati region. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. They are true carnivores and feed on other animals, such as giraffes, buffalo, zebras, wild pigs, and antelopes. 8) Lions Are Sociable. These lions are considered sacred in these communities. Get to know more about lions through these amazing facts: lioness with cub 1. Their average lifespan is about 18 years. The reason for the variation in lip and eye colour is a differing expression of this recessive gene in different individuals. This indicates that the recessive trait is still present in lions in Timbavati, even after years of technical extinction. White lions do not make good pets. Lions are seriously hefty! 7. And one of these lifer/bucket list moments is seeing the Timbavati white lions. South African lions have a top speed of about 50.3 mph (81 kph)! And completely the way nature intended them to be. This proves the conservation value of this rare phenotype to the biodiversity of this wilderness region. The heaviest lion on record was at Colchester Zoo in England. Top Key Facts about White Lions White Lions are not albinos, but a genetic rarity unique to one endemic region on the globe: The UNESCO Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere region. The heaviest lion ever weighed tipped the scales at 826lbs or 375kg! And in the case of the white lions, their eyes are often a startling blue. A group is usually composed of 1 to 4 adult males, several adult females (one of which is dominant) and a number of sub-adults and cubs. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! They are carnivores and hunt for gazelles, zebras, buffaloes, wild hares, and wildebeests. White lions are one of the heaviest wild cats, with an average weight of about 380-530 lb (172.3-240.4 kg). Common in pop culture 13. Unfortunately, even though they are considered sacred by many, their numbers in the wild are almost non-existent because of trophy hunting programs. What is a springbok? Lions are the most social out of all the big cat species. Unfortunately, they faced extinction in the wild at one point.
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