Rare white lion cubs born in Georgia

Monday, December 16, 2013, 7:21 PM -

In Georgia, four rare white lion cubs have been born at the Tbilisi zoo.

The cubs have been separated from their mother in case she couldn't provide enough milk to the newborns. 

White lions are rarely found in the wild but are often bred for zoos, animal shows, and wildlife parks. 

Many of the world's big cats also quickly disappearing from the wild, all victims of habitat loss, sport hunting and human activity.

Several advocacy groups have created groups to address this critical situation, including the National Geographic Society has launched the Big Cats Initiative.

The program supports conservation, education, and economic incentive efforts while raising global awareness.

“We no longer have the luxury of time when it comes to big cats,” says Dereck Joubert, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence and chair of the program.

“They are in such a downward spiral that if we hesitate now, we will be responsible for extinctions across the globe. If there was ever a time to take action, it is now."