"The legend of the white Lion has been prevalent in African folklore since the dawn of man. The ancient myth holds that once in every century these regal animals emerge from the African bush, their majestic coats a clear representation of the good in all creatures."
About the Magical White Lions
• The lion, known as the King of the Beasts, has always been held in high esteem, bearing a legacy that includes nobility, courage, loyalty and combative skills. It has appeared in drawings dating back 15,000 years.
• The lion is the second largest among the big cats, with the tiger being the largest. Full grown males display a regal and imposing nonchalance, reaching 600 pounds in the wild and measuring up to 10 feet in length.
• The lion is unusual among the cat species in that it lives in organized groups called “prides.” The prides can consist of 30 to 40 lions, the majority of which are females (lionesses) and their offspring, along with a small number of resident males. The territory of the pride varies in size and can run as large as 200 square miles, with prides often split into smaller social groupings.
• The life expectancy of the lion in the wild averages from 15 to 18 years, and in captivity from 25 to 30 years. They live longer in captivity due to the fact they do not have to hunt or fight and they are protected from any unforeseen dangers.
• Lionesses hunt the prey for the pride, usually focusing on antelope, buffalo, rabbits, zebra or gazelle. The males eat first, even though they take no part in the hunting process. The females are next to feed, followed by the cubs. A sad fact of lion life is that the leading cause of death in the wild is starvation.
• Incoming males provide another threat to the young cubs of the pride. When a male lion reaches maturity, it leaves its natural pride and goes in search of another pride, for which it must fight for the right to join.
• Males within a pride have a social bond with each other and will protect their pride together.
• The curiosity and energy of lion cubs is boundless. They will wrestle for hours, chase anything that moves, crawl on and spar with their mothers, climb trees, and even interact with adult males. The playful tussling has a purpose, as the young cats are developing their muscles and sharpening reflexes, they are working out fighting techniques they will need as adults to defend their territories, prides and food against rivals.
• Cubs begin to accompany their mothers on hunting expeditions when they are three to four months old, although they will not kill their prey until they are about two years old.
• Lions hunt for food mainly at night because their night vision is very good. It is not unusual for them to travel up to 15 miles in search of prey.
