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White Lion!
Topic Started: May 13 2014, 06:55 PM (943 Views)
Athena
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I visited a zoo close to where I live, and found out that they have a white lion. She's very beautiful! I managed to get an okay photo of her

Posted Image
I don't know how rare this coloration is but its neat to see
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Similis
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If it's a naturally occurring mutation then it's perfectly fine, but many places subscribe to the awful practice of inbreeding big cats to increase the amount of oddly coloured individuals.
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CyborgIguana
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I'm pretty sure this is a mutation that has been observed in the wild (albeit rare), and AFAIK there are no deformities or ill health effects associated with lions that are born this way, so I assume displaying them in zoos is fine. My local zoo actually has a pair as well as it just so happens, and they were acquired from a sanctuary in southern Africa rather than being inbred in captivity.
Edited by CyborgIguana, May 14 2014, 11:49 AM.
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mikek21
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CyborgIguana, you are correct in that there would be no deformities or other ill health effects to the coat color mutation. But I think what MrGorsh is referring to is the ill effects associated with breeding closely related animals just to obtain more individuals with the same color mutation.

It's the inbreeding that has the ill effects, not the coat color.

This also happened with white tigers as well. Most captive white tigers are highly inbred.
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Fluffs
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Pull my finger!

In fact, the AZA has banned breeding white felines since 2008.
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Thierry Baudet
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Hiddema, pak de kartelschaar

mikek21
May 14 2014, 12:33 PM
This also happened with white tigers as well. Most captive white tigers are highly inbred.
Most? I think it's safe to say they are all as they all originated from one single animal.

King cheetahs also face said problem. As Fluffy pointed out, the AZA already banned such breeding practices, sadly the EAZA hasn't done the same yet.

Also regarding the lions, most sanctuary animals were (in)bred in captivity too.
Edited by Thierry Baudet, May 15 2014, 01:41 AM.
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Athena
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I'm aware that sometimes zoo's practice unethical breeding, and I have no idea where this particular lion came from before this zoo, but I really didn't make this topic to discuss that... I just thought it was neat that they had a white lion

She seemed very well taken care of, and happy, and her exhibit was nicely built.
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Bigwhale
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Happy, doesn't mean it was fully in good health or sporting disabilities. Also might I ask why are the lion's eyes are closed?
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CyborgIguana
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Yes, but how well looked after the animals are has little to do with where they came from.
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Jannick
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Papua merdeka!

Bigwhale
May 15 2014, 10:57 AM
Also might I ask why are the lion's eyes are closed?
There are a million possible reasons why a lion might close its eyes :P Actually, I don't even think the eye is closed, it's just the angle of the photo combined with the direction the lion is looking in.
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Ignacio
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Ex Corrupt Staff

Because she is probably falling asleep...
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Fluffs
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Pull my finger!

It looks like a beautiful day, so she may just be chillin' :P
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Athena
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It was a nice day, a little windy though. I... really don't see how her eyes being closed might indicate sickness... And i doubt the zoo would display a sick lion. She has no visible deformations.
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Ulquiorra
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CyborgIguana
May 14 2014, 11:48 AM
I'm pretty sure this is a mutation that has been observed in the wild (albeit rare)
Thats true, white lions have been observed in the wild, although they always appear in South African lion populations.
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CyborgIguana
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Yeah, it only occurs in a particular subspecies that's native exclusively to South Africa IIRC.
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