Venezuela zoo welcomes rare white lion cubs

A Venezuelan zoo presented two rare white lion cubs born at Maracay’s Las Delicias Zoo, marking a conservation milestone for the facility. The male and female Timbavati lion cubs arrived on November 26 to parents Camatagua and Sebastian, who were rescued from wildlife trafficking in the Czech Republic and brought to Maracay in 2022. Zoo staff said both cubs are healthy and under round‑the‑clock veterinary and keeper care as part of a controlled breeding program aimed at supporting genetically vulnerable big‑cat populations.

The cubs belong to Panthera leo melanochaita, a subspecies noted for larger size and, in the white morph, pale coloration caused by a recessive gene. White lions are exceedingly rare in the wild and are mostly maintained in protected reserves and zoological programs; conservationists emphasize that preserving genetic diversity in captive populations is important amid threats such as habitat loss and poaching that imperil African lions broadly.

Las Delicias Zoo credited coordinated efforts in habitat preparation, nutrition and medical oversight for the successful birth and said the arrival highlights the role regulated breeding programs can play in species conservation, especially in countries where economic strains complicate wildlife care. The announcement drew strong public interest online and locally: zoo officials launched a social‑media contest allowing Aragua residents to suggest names for the cubs and said visitors will be able to see them once keepers determine they are robust enough for display.

While the newborns have generated excitement, conservationists and zoo staff reiterated that white lions are not a separate species and that attention should remain on protecting wild lion populations and their habitats. For Las Delicias, the births are presented as both a public relations boost and a tangible example of international rescue and rehabilitation efforts yielding positive outcomes, underscoring the need for continued partnerships and resources to support long‑term conservation work.