Workers at a Colombian circus have welcomed a rare white lion cub into their troupe.
The new-born cat, named Milagros, joined the family and the small population of around 300 white lions left in the world.
Circus workers in the city of Monteria, some 430km from the capital Bogota, did not know that Milagros' mother Chiara was pregnant.
Her birth came as a pleasant surprise for the German tamer known as Tarzan. He said the white lion was a very special animal.
"The important thing now is to raise it because it is a unique animal. We can say that it is the only one in South America," he said.
Though Milagros' parents both have yellow fur, the playful cub was born snow-white. Milagros is in good health and is receiving special care.
White lions are not albino, but get their colouring due to a recessive gene. They are said to be native to the Timbavati region of South Africa.
3 News / Reuters