This adorable little White Lion loves to cuddle – and it’s enough to make anyone’s heart roar.
Out in Klerksdorp, South Africa, this handler and her baby White Lion seem to have formed a beautiful relationship. Holding the lion cub in her lap, she rubs her nose against its fur. It nestles its head beneath her chin as she kisses its forehead.
The lion opens its mouth, revealing its teeth in a non-threatening manner. The woman continues to kiss the cub as it worms around in her arms. She rubs his soft coat, lovingly.
After letting out a few squeaky roars, the cub looks up at the woman and appears to purse its little lips, kissing her.
See what a grown White Lion sounds like HERE.
Now, lions don’t have the same sort of dexterity us humans have when it comes to kissing, but you be the judge!
Most White Lions are kept in captivity. They are incredibly rare in the wild, and less than 13 circulate their natural habitat.
According to the Global White Lion Protection Trust, White Lions are only found in the Greater Timbavati region in South Africa. Less than 300 lions are currently kept in captivity.
Their beautiful white coat is actually the result of a genetic mutation. At the moment, the White Lion is identified as a variant of the tawny Southeast African lion.
This poses problems for protecting White Lions from canned, big game hunting. Because they are grouped into the larger population of tawny lions, they are not identified as an endangered species. While lions (Panthera leo) are identified as vulnerable, trophy hunters still have legal access to the animal.
The Global White Lion Trust is dedicated to saving the lives of these lions.
“The primary focus is on highlighting the White Lion’s value in terms of culture, conservation, education, eco-tourism, and ultimately spiritual enlightenment. In cultural terms, the White Lion is the King of the Beasts at his most elevated. In scientific terms, the White Lion is a genetic rarity. Either way, these animals need to be protected and studied.”
Animal conservationists at the Trust created the Reintroduction Programme in order to nurture these animals and reintroduce them into the wild.
“By 2013, three prides of un-imprinted White Lions had been successfully reintroduced… and were hunting as effectively as the wild tawny lions studied in the same free-roaming wildlife area. Two of the White Lion groups were then successfully integrated with wild tawny lions.”
Watch 3 newborn White Lions play with their mother HERE.
One day we hope to see more little cubs like our friend here ferociously return to their native kingdom.
