Rare white lion cubs on display near San Antonio

Snake Farm owner Eric Trager shows his facility in New Braunfels on Feb. 13, 2014. Snake Farm owner Eric Trager shows his facility in New Braunfels on Feb. 13, 2014. Photo: TOM REEL Photo: TOM REEL Image 1 of / 69 Caption Close Rare white lion cubs on display near San Antonio 1 / 69 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Two very rare felines have made their way to South Texas from South Africa — to Snake Farm and New Braunfels.

The two white lion cubs are the only big cats of their kind in the state, and two of less than 20 in North America, said Eric Trager, who owns Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo off of Interstate 35 near San Antonio.

The white lions, which are sometimes referred to as the “Ghosts of the Jungle,” arrived at the attraction last month, said Trager, a Dallas doctor who owns the park and has been involved in animal rescue and conservation for more than 20 years.

There are less than 300 white lions in existence, most of which are in captivity, according to the Global White Lion Protection Trust.

“The cubs are something different that gets people's attention and gives us an opportunity at that moment to teach people about the declining population of lions in Africa and about conservation,” said Trager, 42. “If we can just touch those one or two kids that may make a difference later in life in conservation by seeing such a beautiful animal now, then we've met our goal.”

The lions are not albino, but their color is caused by a recessive gene. They are not listed as extinct or endangered because they aren't considered a separate species from ordinary tawny-colored lions.

After being completely extinct in the wild, the Global White Lion Protection Trust reintroduced a pride into the wild in South Africa more than five years ago, and today, three prides roam freely.

More than 500 animals are at the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo, Trager said.

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