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Sabi and Shaka are sisters, born to their mother the late Sophia in 2013
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Jasiri and Nuru are sisters born to their mother Joy in 2013 - they share an enclosure with Sabi and Shaka
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The four white lionesses live happily together in a little pride since the loss of the Manzi, the male lion who headed up the pride
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These beautiful girls spend most of their time relaxing wherever it's warmest, be that indoors in winter or outside in the sun during summer
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The white colouration of the pride is caused by a genetic mutation called leucism. White lions are not a different sub-species to African lions - they just happen to be white!
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These lionesses demonstrate on a daily basis just how much love there is within a family pride - the bonds between them are clear to see
The Sanctuary’s white lions are all the offspring of Joy and Sophia, two white lionesses who came to the Sanctuary in 2012 to join Themba – the resident male white lion at the time.
The two sisters both became mothers here at the Sanctuary, and their daughters still live at here and will remain with us.
Adopt one of the white lioness prideBorn at The Big Cat Sanctuary, Sabi is one of the more confident lionesses of the pride. She’s often the first to respond when called and never misses a chance to make her presence known. With her bold attitude, Sabi isn’t afraid to remind the keepers who’s really in charge, especially when it comes to protecting her sisters’ space.
Whether she’s striding into the house or making sure everyone keeps their distance, Sabi always has the last word.
Adopt SabiShaka was born at The Big Cat Sanctuary and is the least dominant of the lioness pride but what Shaka lacks in boldness, she makes up for with her gentle nature and love of food! She’s the stockiest of the sisters and Shaka is often found sticking close to her twin, Sabi, or snuggled up with her half-sister, Nuru.
While Shaka prefers to let her sisters take the lead, she’s always nearby, quietly observing or enjoying a well-earned rest. Her calm, easy-going nature makes Shaka a much-loved member of the pride.
Adopt ShakaJasiri was born here at The Big Cat Sanctuary and has spent her life with her sisters as an educational ambassador. From a young age, it was clear she was destined to be the leader. Jasiri is the most confident and dominant member of the pride, always the first to come over for food and never afraid to keep her sisters in line when they get a little too playful.
Jasiri’s bold, self-assured nature makes her stand out amongst her family. Whether she’s watching over the group or stepping up to meet visitors, Jasiri carries herself with authority.
Adopt JasiriBorn at The Big Cat Sanctuary, Nuru is the tallest and most slender of the sisters. With her graceful build and calm presence, she’s easy to spot but it’s her protective nature that truly sets her apart. Nuru is always keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings, making sure that keepers and guests respect her space and her pride’s territory.
While she’s naturally reserved, Nuru also has a playful side. She loves enrichment time, especially when there are rope scratch balls involved which never fail to bring out her fun, curious side.
Adopt NuruThe Timbavati region of the Kruger in South Africa is home to some very bleached sands and grasses, so white lions are able to camouflage well enough to hunt and thrive in this environment. In South Africa the tawny-coloured lions naturally mix with white lions. White lions are not actually a sub-species – they’re simply a different colour to most of the lions in this isolated area. Sadly, white lions are hunted with a much higher price on their head, simply by virtue of being more unusual, making for a much rarer and therefore highly sought-after trophy.
The myth of the white lion has been prevalent in the African folklore for centuries. As per the legend, white lions would be born every 100 years, bringing joy and happiness to all who witness them.
Adopt one of the white lioness prideThe vast majority of lions live in sub-Saharan Africa. The current world population is estimated at under 24,000 – down from as many as 200,000 in 1900. Lions are threatened by the illegal trade in meat and other body parts, habitat loss, and conflict with humans due to the real or perceived threat that lions pose to livestock.
The male African lion is second in size of the big cats only to the tiger. As the only truly social species of cat, prides of lions can hunt even the largest prey – buffalo, giraffe, and even juvenile elephants. However, they predominantly prey upon medium-sized wildlife, such as wildebeest, zebra and impala.
Adopt one of the white lioness pride