The White Lions of Timbavati

by Chris McBride

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Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Cats

220 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[hare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just some old book on lions I found curious, with interesting but very general observations of a single Timbavati pride in the 1970s.

I know it's old, and yet I'm still baffled at the author's opinion at the time that it'd be best to capture the white lions (or at least one of them) and send them off to a zoo... to breed more white lions. I mean... what? He wrote that they'd be saving them, but he was wrong; white lions are not at a disadvantage. Studies have shown that they are no less capable of hunting successfully.

McBride later wrote Operation white lion, which I think ends on placing the white lions in a fenced-off area (I'd have to read the whole thing to be sure though). And I know there are Linda Tucker's books about white lions (Saving the White Lions and Mystery Of The White Lions) - for those interested out there.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book while sitting on the carpeted floor of my childhood bedroom, flipping from the text to the photographs, back and forth, back and forth. I wonder how many times I read this book in total. Countless. It was a gift from an Aunt & Uncle, who always gave educational gifts to my siblings and me. In hindsight, it was a strange gift since it wasn't actually aimed toward little girls, or even kids. Maybe that's why I loved it. I still have this book packed away safely in a box somewhere. I think I might read it again someday soon.

[Alicia Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply beautiful. Watched the Movie when I was very young and fell in love with the story. The Book is equally delightful.

[Prerna Munshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was in my late father's collection and I was tempted to read it. In the mid 70s, Chris McBride follows a pride of lions in Timbawati which he has christened as The Machaton Pride. He records the Pride's life patterns, makes interesting observations about the ecosystem, is himself pursuing a degree in Wildlife management and in the course of all this, two pure white lion cubs are born in The Machaton Pride who are named Temba and Tombi. McBride is specifically concerned of their survival as their whitness turns them against their armor of camouflage. He is concerned that they won't be able to predate and will be an easy hunter's target. He is also intrigued as to what may have caused these cubs their whiteness. But he never finds out (not in the course of the book atleast) and at best, credits it to some recessive gene that has found an expression after generations (just takes a hint of common sense to deduce that!)
They make certain human interventions to help these cubs survive as they hope that there may be more of future white lions (Phuma, a white lioness is also born in the course).

Most of the book is about McBride's trails in the jungles of Timbawati, following lion spoors. Then he also talks about culling the species that are overgrowing in order to stabilize the ecosystem. That sounded objectionable to me. I am sure there are better alternatives and those are dated techniques.

Lastly, he talks about sending the young white lions (esp Temba the male lion) to a zoo for his better chances at survival while also ensuring funds for white lion conservation and using him for mating experiments. That sounded too problematic to even a person like me who has no practical idea of wildlife conservation.

The read was good in parts but average , overall. Here's a Whiteman who has inherited large estates in the wilderness of Africa. Who questions all the privilege?

[Jane Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. Confession time. I bought this book back in the late 70s or early 80s and have carted it through my life since then and have never read it!!!so I finally did! It’s pretty dated but I still enjoyed it, I always have loved learning about lions and reading about life in Africa. (I think from reading Born Free so many times as a child!). So while many might find this pretty boring, I really enjoyed it. But that’s me.

[Cws]

J599.7McB

[Sharonh · Rating 3 out of 5]

How the first white lions were discovered in the Timbavati

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was given to me by my mom's boyfriend at the time, just out of the blue, and I cherished it.

[Austen to Zafón · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book several times when I was a kid. I was fascinated by lions and by the idea of being a person who followed and documented lions.

[Elizabetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this ages ago. Wonder how the white lions are doing...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a kid.

[Kaitlyn Kempffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really cute it was also sad because the white lion got lost at night with its brother or sister and the sister or brother died from a snake bite ps baby lions loved it and I recommend it.