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Rare white lions released to wild
Two adult males and two juvenile females now in South African reserve
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A
pride of white lions, including two adult males and two juvenile
females, has been released into Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in South
Africa's Western Cape Province.
The
release is the culmination of a years-long White Lion Project, which
was sponsored by the Shamwari Dubai World Africa Conservation team.
The white lions, also called blond lions , are the same species as African lions (Panthera leo). Their blondish-white coloring is the result of a
recessive mutant gene. So cubs born to more tawny-colored lions could
carry the recessive mutant gene (without showing a blond coat) and pass
it on to future generations. Like most recessive genes, if an offspring
gets two copies of that genetic mutation , the trait, such as blondness, will be expressed and show up.
According to the Project scientists, white
lions were first spoted in the wild 400 years ago, then again in 1928,
and then 50 years later a litter of two white cubs was documented at
Timbvati Game Reserve in South Africa.
Even though white lions are rare in the wild, breeding programs, zoos and circuses have made more of them.
Palin loses bid to block beluga whale protection
Federal government declares population off Anchorage 'endangered'
NOAA All beluga whales in U.S. waters are in five distinct populations off Alaska. One of those, the Cook Inlet population, has been declared endangered after failing to recover despite earlier protections. |
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WASHINGTON
- The federal government on Friday determined that a species of beluga
whale native to an inlet off Anchorage, Alaska, is endangered and will
require additional protection to survive.
The
finding could even have presidential implications: Alaska Gov. Sarah
Palin, Sen. John McCain's running mate, had questioned scientific
evidence that the population was declining.
The
listing has the potential to affect major Alaska projects including an
expansion of the Port of Anchorage, additional offshore oil and gas
drilling, a proposed $600 million bridge connecting Anchorage to
Palin's hometown of Wasilla and a massive coal mine 45 miles south of
Anchorage.
Whales are not recovering'
"In
spite of protections already in place, Cook Inlet beluga whales are not
recovering," James Balsiger, assistant administrator for the National
Marine Fisheries Service, said in a statement.
The
population declined nearly 50 percent between 1994 and 1998, according
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs the
fisheries service.
"NOAA
scientists estimated the Cook Inlet beluga population at 375 for both
2007 and 2008," NOAA stated. "Estimates have varied from a high of 653
belugas in 1994 to a low of 278 belugas in 2005." 
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