Meet Simba and Nala, a pair of white lion cubs who were born
This is a very happy outcome since they are the offspring of a pair of adult lions who were rescued from a circus and saved from a terrible life
Cute: White lion cubs rest on a towel in the office of the director of Yalta Zoo in the Ukraine. The ultra-rare cats were all born a fortnight ago to tawny coloured parents
Chilling out: A white lion cub cuddles up to a teddy bear
Infant: A zoo keeper holds a white lion cub at feeding time
White lions are not albinos. Like blue eyes in humans, the animals’ white colour is caused by a recessive gene shared by both parents.
Hungry: The tawny lioness mother didn’t produce enough milk to feed her cubs so zookeepers give them a bottle every two hours
Someone needs a bib: A white lion cub drools some of its formula milk during feeding time
Surprised: Yalta Zoo Director Oleg Zubkov holds a white lion cub. Staff were not expecting the ultra rare white big cats
Adopted: Mr Zubkov and his wife Olga care for the animals in his office at the zoo
White lions are native to only the Greater Timbavati region of South Africa, an area characterised by white sandy riverbeds and long grass scorched pale by the sun.
Majestic: A male white lion raised in captivity and reintroduced to the wild yawns as he basks in the hot African sun