White Lions back in the wild

12.21PM, Fri Apr 28 2006


A family of endangered White Lions, extinct in the wild for over 12 years, have been reintroduced back into their natural habitat by African conservationists.

White lioness Marah was rescued from a hunting camp in 2001 and held by Johannesburg Zoo.

She later give birth to three cubs and now Marah and her babies have been reintroduced into their natural homeland in Africa's Greater Timbavati area.

The Global White Lion Protection Trust only went ahead with the project on the basis of a strict non-hunting policy.

This is a serious challenge since many neighbouring private reserves still hunt lions for trophies. But the decision to go-ahead, on the eve of South Africa's Freedom Day, represented a critical landmark in conservation history.

Tragically all White Lions today are in captivity. Prized for their rarity, they are removed from their natural habitat and held in captivity in South Africa before being sent to zoos and circuses around the globe such as Siegfried and Roy's magic act in Las Vegas.

Are White Lions known to be plagued with poor eyesight and/or hearing problems (or any other physical impairments) like some other varieties of "white cats"?

Thanks

the rare white lions ...
check here http://www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/lions.html

Outstanding site and description of the various color phases of big cats. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Don In Colorado:
Outstanding site and description of the various color phases of big cats. Thanks.