In 2006, White Lions started once again being Threatened & Protected Animals of National 21 “Most asked” born in the Timbavati and neighbouring private Importance. questions about nature reserves, proving that the White Lion is a natural occurrence and that the gene still Q5: Are the White Lions currently White Lions answered! exists in the Greater Timbavati Region. In 2014, classified as an “endangered species / the first white cubs were once again born in animal”? the Kruger National Park (Nwanetsi-Singita Lebombo Concession) - a region in which Turner: No, they are not yet appropriately there is no lion trophy hunting, so there is much classified. Presently, the White Lions are listed hope for the long-term survival of White Lions. as Panthera leo, under CITES Appendix II Despite the continued commercial trophy and, therefore, fall under the IUCN (World hunting of lions in the Greater Timbavati region, Conservation Union) classification of Q & A with Jason Turner, Director of there have now been several occurrences of ‘Vulnerable’, ie. ‘species that are not necessarily Conservation and Lion Ecologist of the White Lions over an extensive area, proving now threatened with extinction, but that may Global White Lion Protection Trust the conservation value of this rare phenotype become so, unless trade is closely controlled’. Updated Sept 2019 to the biodiversity of this wilderness region. Of serious concern is that at the present time (2018), the conservation authority in South Africa Q1: Are the White Lions “albino lions”? Q4: Now that the genetic marker is (Department of Environmental Affairs - DEA) is known, how can this research protect down-listing the conservation status of ALL Turner: No, they are not. In 1997 a study the White Lions? lions in South Africa from ‘Vulnerable’ to ‘Least by Cruickshank & Robinson determined Concern. This will increase the hunting of conclusively that White Lions are not albinos. Turner: In 2013, after a 7 year study led by the wild lions in South Africa, and increase the They have blue or gold colouration in their White Lion Trust in partnership with seven other availability and therefore the demand for lion eyes, black features on the tip of their noses, countries, the genetic marker for the White Lion parts / bones, putting lions under greater threat as well as “eye-liner” and dark patches behind was finally identified. This research will be used of extinction. The White Lion Trust and other their ears (“follow-me signs”). By contrast, to determine the frequency of occurrence of concerned organisations are campaigning to albino lions, which lack pigmentation, have a White Lions in the Greater Timbavati / Kruger prevent this down-listing. characteristic pink or red colouration to their Park Region, and have ALL lions in this region features. White colouration in White Lions better protected, under the IUCN conservation Appendix II means that the White Lions or is similar to blue eyes in humans, which is category of Critically Endangered and CITES their derivatives (eg. animal parts) can be sold, similarly due to a recessive gene. Appendix I. This follows the international hunted and traded. In reality, every permit issued precedent of the Spirit or Kermode Bear (Ursus to hunt a lion (Panthera leo) can be used to Q2: Where do White Lions originate from? americanus kermodei) in British Columbia, hunt a White Lion. Since there are currently Canada: this is a rare variant of the Black (2018) only 11 White Lions in the wild, in their Turner: The White Lions are a natural Bear (Ursus americanus) that has significant endemic range, White Lions are critically occurrence in a specific distribution range cultural value to the First Nations Kitasoo endangered. Any White Lions born or in South Africa: the Greater Timbavati and people, is a flagship for protecting 4000 000 reintroduced to the wild are not protected. southern Kruger Park region. White Lions area ha of wilderness (Great Bear Rainforest), and is significant contribution to the biodiversity of therefore protected by law from being hunted. Q6: Why are White Lions not classified as that region. Studies have shown that White “endangered” and officially protected if Lions survived successfully in their natural they are so rare in the wild? distribution range for at least 56 years – and, in all likelihood, much longer. Turner: White Lions are classified as Panthera leo and, as such, can be hunted or traded to Q3: How did White Lions disappear extinction – although there are only 13 White historically from the Timbavati and Lions in the wild in their natural habitat at the Kruger National Park? present time (2018). In accordance with the international precedent of the Kermode or Turner: After they were “discovered” by Spirit Bear (Ursus americanus kermodei) in Europeans in the 1970s, White Lions were Canada, the entire lion population in the region Image supplied courtesy of SpiritBear.com artificially removed from the wild to captive where White Lions occur, and which carries the breeding and hunting operations. These white lion gene, needs to be protected by law from Trophy hunting still takes place in a core part of the captive operations, as well as zoos, specifically being hunted – this requires an uplisting of the natural distribution range of the White Lions, and bred White Lions because of their rarity, and conservation status of lions in South Africa to the captive breeding/canned hunting exploited them for financial gain. Along with Appendix I according to CITES, and to operations have put the gene pool under these removals, lion culling in the Kruger ‘Endangered’ or ‘Critically Endangered’ duress. The White Lion Trust has established a National Park (especially in the late 1970s) and according to the IUCN conservation categories. protected conservation area for free-roaming White trophy hunting of pride male lions in the Lions, and introduced 3 prides of the highest Timbavati (leading to killing of cubs by rival male genetic integrity. A 10-year study by the White lions - infanticide), depleted the gene pool. This Lion Trust was conducted on the white lion has contributed to the drastic decline in the Q7: Is there any “evidence” indicating that reintroduction, their ecology and hunting frequency of occurrence of White Lions and, White Lions can be classified as a behaviour, providing ground breaking evidence ultimately, a 12-year technical extinction in the wild. sub-species? that White Lions are apex predators hunting as effectively as the wild tawny lions studied in the : The sub-speciation topic is and same free-roaming wildlife area [Turner, Vasicek & Turner Somers 2015]. This forms part of a PhD study on always will be a contentious issue. There are the 'Ecology of White Lions' being conducted by those geneticists / scientists that oppose the WLTs Lion Ecologist and Director of sub-classification and are of the opinion that Conservation: J A Turner. everything should be ‘lumped’ together as a single species. Other geneticists / scientists The White Lion Trust is partnering with local support sub-classification arguing that “to communities to encourage them to conserve protect the whole you need to protect all the natural heritage and wildlife through keeping land parts”. The opinion of the Global White Lion suitable for wildlife from being converted to Protection Trust is that the categorising of farmland or developed for commercial animals as species or according to subspecies reasons. The genetic research process provides a necessary foundation to have the is in reality just a human pigeon-holing system, White Lions listed on the Schedule of what is important is that the ENTIRE SPECIES is protected, and that means protecting every understanding and techniques [Robinson & “apex predators”, ie. they have been recorded ‘part’ or ‘sub-category’. For example lions in De Vos, 1982; Cruickshank & Robinson 1997; as hunting successfully during the day, and West Africa are critically endangered and are McBride 1977; McBride 1981; Tucker 2003] at night, killing prey as large as giraffe, as therefore given a higher conservation status After seven years of genetic research, led by effectively as wild tawny lions [Turner et al. of CITES Appendix I as compared to all other the White Lion Trust in collaboration with seven 2015: Cesare, M. 2011. Man-eaters, marulas African lions which are classified as CITES other countries, the genetic marker for the and Mambas: A Game Ranger’s Life in the Appendix II – according to Appendix I hunting white lion was finally identified in 2013. Using Lowveld]. It is important to note that most lion is not permitted and there is a much stricter this research, in accordance with international prey animals are partially colour-blind and, regulation of trade in animal parts. precedents set by groups working with other therefore, the difference in sightability between species (s.a. Kermode Bear in Canada) White tawny and White Lions is not nearly so drastic. Lions could be classified as a sub-species or, Also, lions hunt co-operatively, in groups, and at least, as being genetically distinct and in mostly at night [Smuts 1982] and hence, hair need of protection. colouration is less significant than it would be in diurnal or solitary predators. Our research Q8: What is the main focus of the Global indicates that White Lions were often dominant White Lion Protection Trust? in their prides in the wild, successfully raising litters and leading hunting expeditions. There Turner: The primary aim of the Global White are records of them hunting and providing for Lion Protection Trust (WLT) is to re-establish their tawny prides. Moreover, our own scientific White Lions within their natural distribution monitoring team recorded more than 95 kills A recent study refutes the hypothesis that range, in the way they once occurred naturally. within our founding pride’s first year of release African lions consist of a single panmictic This is done in strict accordance with current in the Lions’ natural habitat [Turner et al.