Wild tawny lions were released into the study area and their hunting success recorded. Prey density, availability of preferred prey and habitat type were similar to that of the white lions’ natural habitat of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Two separate groups of white lions were rewilded and their hunting success evaluated.
This hypothesis was investigated under managed free-roaming conditions in two fenced areas since no adult white lions existed in the wild at the time. It has been suggested that white coat colour prevents free-roaming lions from hunting successfully and therefore surviving in the wild. Although white cubs were born in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2014, and in southern Kruger National Park in 20, no adult animals had been seen since 1994. White lions are a rare colour variant of the African lion, Panthera leo, that only occurred in the wild in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and southern Kruger National Park, South Africa. Correspondence should be addressed Coat colour variation has been recorded in several mammalian taxa, including large felid species. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests. Global White Lion Protection Trust, South Africa, Flora Fauna Man, Ecological Services, South Africa, Centre for Wildlife Management, Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Pretoria, South Africaįunding: This research has been funded by the Global White Lion Protection Trust, a non-profit conservation trust. Effects of a colour variant on hunting ability: the white lion in South Africa
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