White lion

The natural range of the white lion is extremely limited and is concentrated almost entirely in the north-east of South Africa, in the Timbavati (Transvaal region), near the Kruger National Park.

The white lion is neither an albino nor a separate species - it is simply the result of a rare genetic trait. Its eyes and skin have normal pigmentation, but its fur appears white due to a low amount of melanin. This trait is associated with a recessive gene that rarely manifests itself, and as a result, their color can vary from cream-beige shades to snow-white tones. There is also a hypothesis among scientists that the gene that forms the white color was inherited from distant ancestors. It is believed that for lions living in the Ice Age, light-colored fur was advantageous in terms of camouflage, and although this gene has weakened over time, it has not completely disappeared.