[PICTURES] These White Lioness Cubs Will Make You Hug a Pillow
These cute little cubs will warm even the coldest of hearts.
By Sadho Ram — 09 Jul 2013, 09:55 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
PICTURES: These 13-day-old white lioness cubs were born at an amusement complex in Japan
TOO MUCH CUTENESS!: These 13-day-old White Lioness cubs were born at an amusement complex in Japan.
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Seven Lion Cubs born At Himeji Central Park
Quite a handful: White lions are incredibly rare - with just 300 believed to be in existence around the world
Image via dailymail.co.uk
We're all-white: Three white lion cubs pictured at just nine-days-old after being born at the Himeji Central Park on June 30
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Luck is delivered in threes: These young white lion cubs are the third set to be born at the Himeji Central Park in Japan within the last month
Image via dailymail.co.uk
Nine-day-old lioness cubs are held by zoo keepers at Himeji Central Park, Japan. The seven white lioness cubs, given birth by three female South African Lions were born on June 6th, 26th and 30th. The cubs will be on public display for the first time later this week. Picture: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images
Image via telegraph.co.ukThree rare South African white lions have given birth at the Himeji Central Park in Japan in the last month - giving the zoo a total of seven news cubs to add to its growing pride.
dailymail.co.ukThe 13 day old White Lioness cubs are clearly having fun in their new environment and the seven adorable tiny furballs are due to have their first public outing at the end of this week.
Zoo officials said this is the first time white lions have been born at a zoo in western Japan.
The cubs will go on public display for the first time later this week. White lions are not albinos. Like blue eyes in humans, the animals' white colour is caused by a recessive gene shared by both parents.
dailymail.co.ukGALLERY: Incredibly cute pictures of lioness Cubs being fed
About white Lions
White lions are not albinos. Like blue eyes in humans, the animals' white colour is caused by a recessive gene shared by both parents.
dailymail.co.ukWhite lions are native to only the Greater Timbavati region of South Africa, an area characterised by white sandy riverbeds and long grass scorched pale by the sun.
dailymail.co.ukThey are regarded as sacred animals by the people of that region, but after Europeans 'discovered' them in the 1970s, many were taken from the wild to captive breeding and hunting operations, according to the Global White Lion Protection Trust.
These removals, along with lion culling and trophy hunting of male lions, depleted the gene pool and the animals have technically been extinct in the wild for the past 12 years.
dailymail.co.ukIn their natural habitat, white lions are regarded as 'apex predators', able to hunt successfully in day and night and take down prey as large as giraffes.
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