White African Lion

 

I took this shot a little while ago at Capron Park Zoo, and I stumbled upon this rare beauty. In African, white lions symbolize the purity and good that can be found in all creatures. They represent the streak of light amongst the corruption and evil in the world--like a holy spirit almost. The first white lions ever seen was back in 1975.

 

These gorgeous animals, unfortunately, have ran into a bit of a disadvantage in the wild due to their coloration. The savannah is full of brown and golden colorations, which are easy for the typical golden-colored lion to blend with. The white lion's brighter coat makes it inevitably harder for them to hide amongst the tall grass and shrubbery, because they can be easily spotted by their prey, making it more difficult for them to hunt. As vulnerable cubs, they face being spotted by potential predators, such as the hyena, and being killed. This represents a larger problem for nomadic males. If there is more than one male in a pride, the other male will eventually be driven away by the more dominant male. If a white lion is forced be nomadic, it can quickly become a problem. Female lions are the ones that do the hunting 99% of the time, because the males are much larger, heavier, and slower. A single white male might have trouble hunting on its own without the faster females to aid him, and with his bright white coat to expose him to his prey.

 

Lucky for this big lug he's being fed well by his keepers. It's just a shame he needs to be kept in captivity, when animals as magnificent as this should be free to roam in the wild.