This applies to the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) bordering the Kruger National Park, which have intervened in the natural system in many ways, including through firebreaks, road and other infrastructure as well as the commercial trophy hunting of lions and other members of the so-called Big Five over several decades. In reality, there are very few ecosystems today that are not, in some way, managed. Turner: This term ‘purist’ is inaccurate. When were White Lions first spotted in the wild, and how many are there worldwide? Despite the continued commercial trophy hunting of lions in the Greater Timbavati region, there have now been several occurrences of White Lions over an extensive area, proving the conservation value of this rare phenotype to the biodiversity of this wilderness region.ġ7. In 2014, the first white cubs were once again born in the Kruger National Park (Nwanetsi-Singita Lebombo Concession) – a region in which there is no lion trophy hunting, so there is much hope for the long-term survival of White Lions. However, these cubs faced additional challenges, since their likely father was trophy hunted, and the prides in the region faced infanticide. At the best of times, the survival rate of lion cubs to adulthood is only 20%. Unfortunately, none of the white cubs – or their tawny siblings – survived. In October 2006, another two white cubs were born at Tabby’s Crossing in the Timbavati Reserve. Turner: In May 2006, after more than a decade had passed without sightings of White Lions, two White Lion cubs were born – amidst tawny cubs – in the Umbabat Private Nature Reserve (neighbouring Timbavati).

White lion cubs