- Since their discovery, white lions have been forcibly removed from their natural habitat
- The last white lion was seen in the wild in 1994
For centuries, white cats have been considered sacred and are said to embody the light of the gods because of their colouring.
But their rarity has counted against them and they are now technically considered extinct.
However, one safari park in Germany is celebrating a bumper year of youngsters being born.
Playful: These lions and tigers at a safari park in German mess about
The cats are now busy enjoying the great outdoors in their enclosure along with the rest of their family including father Kimba.
Meanwhile white tiger trio, Arturo, Ketama and Flores were born in December.
Despite being taken away from their mother, they were hand-reared by keepers instead.
Fighting extinction: Uschi Griese feeds three white tigers at the specialist safari park in Germany
Pride: Young white lions relax at Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock safari park
Obedient: Young white lions with their father
Kimba at a safari park in Germany which is celebrating a bumper crop of
youngsters
A white tiger baby being fed by keeper Uschi
Griese. Although they still enjoy a bottle, the animals are being weaned
and will soon be allowed to explore the great outdoors
It is estimated there are only 500 white lions in the world and all but a handful are in captivity.
The rarity of white lions means that a single white male can sold for up to £80,000.
The greater Timbavati region in eastern South Africa is the only place on Earth where white lions have been found.
Europeans first recorded them in the Thirties, but they have been associated with the region for centuries.
Young white lions at Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock safari park which is Europe's largest breeder of white big cats
Getting a telling off: Father Kimba puts the young white lion into place at the safari park in Germany
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