Preserving a South African Legend
For centuries rumors of mysterious White Lions has been circulating in South Africa. Legend said that the white pelage represented the good to be found in all creatures.
Strong claims of sightings started to surface in 1928. Scattered reports continued the next 47 years, until confirmation of the coloration came in 1975 when a litter containing two white cubs was seen at Timbavati Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park.
Years later, South Africa’s Johannesburg Zoological Gardens contacted Siegfried & Roy and asked them to do the same with the Magical White Lions as they did to preserve the White Tiger.
Of course, the Magicians of the Century accepted the challenge and today conservation leaders from around the world say that they truly are the men who have brought back both the Royal White Tiger and Magical White Lion from extinction.
Knowing that the White Lion was extinct in the wild, Siegfried & Roy started carefully to protect the few that were left.
“In order to give back the magic of the White Lion to the world, we began a breeding program, loaning three – Prosperity, Future and Sunshine — of our White Lions to the Cincinnati Zoo,” explains Roy. “When Prosperity choose Sunshine as her mate (they are unrelated), our fondest wish was that this union would result in cubs.”
The “magic” of Prosperity and Sunshine — Gracious, Courage, Wisdom and Legend – turn a year old on April 1…Siegfried & Roy’s dream is reality.
“As magicians, we make things disappear, and as conservationists, we have made one of Mother Nature’s magnificent creatures reappear for the children of today and tomorrow,” stated Siegfried.
With 23 Magical White Lions thriving under their care, that birth represented a milestone for the renaissance of these rare felines insuring that future generations will be able to see them in person, and not just in books or on film, and that the Magical White Lions will flourish in the new century.
Ever the proud papa, Roy continued, “It’s hard to believe that the cubs are a year old. It was a significant birth for the future of the species. It created a new bloodline. The cubs are truly a gift for the ages.
“They are thriving in Cincinnati, though many times I wish they would be here with me,” said Roy. “But it’s the best for them and the species to remain in the Heartland of America and their birthday sure is the perfect Easter blessing.”
