When were White Lions last spotted being born wild in the Timbavati region? Can any lion produce white offspring?
In May, 2006 two White Lion cubs were born – amidst tawny cubs – in the Umbabat Private Nature Reserve (neighbouring Timbavati). In October of the same year, another two cubs were born at Tabby’s Crossing in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Unfortunately, none of the white cubs – or their tawny siblings – survived. At the best of times, the survival rate of lion cubs to adulthood is only 20%. Trophy hunting in the region made it even less likely that the cubs would survive. One of the two dominant male lions of both prides that gave birth to the white cubs, was trophy hunted . This increased the likelihood that a nomadic coalition killed the cubs. Only lions that are white or are carrying the rare white lion gene can produce white offspring. Both parents need to be carrying the gene to ensure the possibility that some of the offspring will be white. According to Mendels principles of gene inheritance: (i) if both parents are tawny and are carrying the white gene there would be a 2
