White lions Johnny and Naomi

White lions are one of the rarest natural phenomena among big cats. They are not a separate species and are not albinos — their coloration is caused by a rare recessive gene that lightens their fur without affecting their health.

What makes them special:

• They are extremely rare in the wild — the chance of seeing such a lion is very low.

• Their light-colored fur is more noticeable against the savanna, so they have very little chance of surviving in the wild.

• Today, white lions are protected and preserved in zoos and nature reserves.