White (Transvaal) Lion Panthera leo melanochaita (prev. leo; prev. krugeri)

White Lion
White Lion male
The Timbavati (Tsimba-vaati) region of the Kruger National Park in South Africa is the only region where white Lions occur(red) naturally.
White Lion
White Lion male
White Lion
These are not albinos but leucistic, like white tigers, they have a gene that results in light coats while retaining colour pigment in eyes, nose and feet pads. Cubs are born completely white (without the spots of golden/tawny lions) but become cream-coloured as they get older. Most have normal tawny eyes but some have blue eyes like the white tigers.
White Lion family
White Lion male
White Lion female
White male lion with mane and white lioness, both now more cream than white.
White Lion cub
White Lion cub
White Lion head
The young are whiter but go cream with age.
White Lionesses
White Lions
White Lioness
So many have been removed from Kruger for hunting/captivity that the gene may now be very rare in the wild. The same region also has normal golden/tawny lions and both white and tawny are the same subspecies Panthera leo melanochaita (prev. krugeri).