Rare white lion cub greets public at Omaha zoo
Published in Cats & Dogs News
OMAHA (UPI) -- The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha unveiled a trio of lion cubs, including a rare white lion, to the public Wednesday.
The male white lion cub, the first to be born at the zoo, went on display Wednesday alongside his brother and sister following their birth Friday to mother Ahadi.
The lions' father, Mr. Big, is currently being kept separated from the mother and cubs.
Zoo officials said the color of the white lion is caused by a recessive gene native only to a group of lions from South Africa's Krueger National Park.
Dennis Pate, executive director and chief executive officer of the zoo, said officials had no idea their lions carried the white lion gene. He said zookeepers and visitors are more excited than they have been since the birth of five lion cubs at the park about two years ago.
"I didn't think we could top [the five cubs]," Pate told Omaha.com. Then we have a white lion.
Copyright 2014 by United Press International
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