A stunning white lion with an impressive mane is currently the top attraction at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.
Simon Needham, a 55-year-old British wildlife photographer, has captured beautiful images of the rare white lion remaining at the Glen Garriff Lion Sanctuary in Harrismith, South Africa.
The images showcase the lion’s white fur and impressive mane as it confidently roams around the sanctuary.
White lion at Glen Garriff Lion Sanctuary.
Simon Needham stated: “This is a rare opportunity for me to see and capture moments of the white lion. Its magnificent coat blew my mind the first time I saw it. It is beautiful but very difficult to approach. I feel extremely lucky to have captured a few moments close to the white lion. Even though I was equipped with safety gear, I remained cautious. I could feel its power.”
Simon Needham’s purpose in sharing these beautiful images of this wildlife species is to call for help in protecting endangered species. According to him, only with continuous support can humanity hope to save these species from extinction.
The 6-year-old lion’s rare white fur is due to a less common color mutation known as leucism. This condition causes animals to lose some pigmentation, resulting in the distinctive white coloration. The condition is caused by a recessive gene that inhibits color.
The first lion was brought to the Glen Garriff Lion Sanctuary in 2002, and there are now over 70 lions living there.
