Two white lionesses have retired to the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent after spending their early years at its sister charity in Hertfordshire.
On Monday, Zuri and Izulu embarked on a two-hour journey from Hertfordshire Zoo, safely arriving at the Headcorn-based charity just after 3:00 PM GMT.
They spent their first night acclimatizing before being released into their new home on Tuesday. Both immediately began exploring, with Zuri confidently leading the way.
While Izulu is known for her calm demeanor, Zuri, affectionately dubbed “the troublemaker,” is known for her playful antics, such as chasing pigeons and “dismantling plants.”
Zuri and Izulu’s striking white coats are the result of leucism, a genetic condition that causes a loss of pigmentation in their fur and skin.
Born at Hertfordshire Zoo in January 2013 and April 2009, respectively, the pair now resides in an enclosure next to the sanctuary’s male African lion, Kasanga.
The sanctuary, home to around 40 cats across 11 different species, plans to introduce Zuri, Izulu, and Kasanga gradually, hoping to establish a harmonious pride.
While not a distinct subspecies of the African lion, Zuri and Izulu’s presence at the sanctuary aligns with its educational and conservation efforts. Many of the animals housed there are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.