A zoo in Venezuela is heralding a festive season 'miracle' following the arrival of two incredibly rare and endangered white lion cubs.
A Vital Boost for a Critically Rare Species
The two Timbavati white lion cubs, one male and one female, were born on 26 November 2025 at the Maracay Delicias Zoo. Their birth forms a crucial part of the zoo's dedicated conservation and reproduction programme for this vulnerable species. There are currently fewer than 200 white lions left in the world, with a mere estimated 10 surviving in the wild. Shockingly, no adult white lion has been sighted in its natural habitat since 1992.
Zoo President Vanesa Rodríguez stated that the new arrivals are already "roaring with the vitality of the wild," attributing their vigour to exceptional care and a purpose-built environment. The unnamed male cub remains with his mother, while the female cub has been isolated and is receiving assisted feeding to ensure her health.
Public Engagement and Future Plans
The zoo has announced it will hold a public naming contest, inviting local residents to suggest what the precious pair should be called. Governor Joana Sánchez revealed that the cubs will be put on public display in the coming days, once zoo officials are certain they are developing well.
The institution has begun photographing the infant lions and plans to meticulously document their growth on its official channels. "Each birth is another step in our mission to protect wildlife and raise awareness about the importance of conservation," a zoo spokesperson said. "We invite you to follow the growth of these beautiful cubs and join us in our mission."
Understanding the White Lion's Unique Genetics
It is important to note that white lions are not albino. Their striking pale colouration is caused by a rare recessive gene, similar to the genetic trait responsible for blue eyes in humans. This distinct genetic mutation is native to the Timbavati region of South Africa, a fact famously documented in the 1977 book The White Lions of Timbavati.
These cubs are the first white lions born at the zoo since 2023 and follow Venezuela's welcome of three other white lion cubs born in captivity in recent years. Their arrival represents a significant and hopeful moment for global efforts to preserve this majestic and genetically unique animal.
