Tlaxcala, Mexico -- A zoo in central Mexico is growing its population of rare white lions with hopes of eventually establishing a sanctuary featuring the animals.
On Wednesday, the Altiplano Zoo in Tlaxcala, about two hours east of Mexico City, presented to the public two white lion cubs born in March.
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White lions are a genetic rarity unique to an endemic region in South Africa.
Cesar Toriz Hernandez, the zoo's director, says the cubs' mother rejected them, so they had to be formula feed from a bottle for their first couple of months.
They were the second litter of white lions for the cub's parents Miztli and Thonatiu.
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Hernandez said the cubs are gaining weight - now about 44 pounds and 23 inches long - and eat chicken and milk.
The zoo is holding a naming contest for them and Hernandez added that they can find them mates in a few years.