Three white lions arrived at the Zoological Garden of Beersheba on Thursday from Hungary.
The two male and one female lions, triplets born in 2017, are the first Transvaal lions (also known as Southeast African lions) to join an Israeli zoo.
Moreover, according to zoo administrators, this is probably the first time since the 13th century that Beersheba becomes the habitat for lions.
Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich began the process of bringing the lions four years ago and secured special funding. Ahead of their arrival, zoo officials prepared a special area that would let them move relatively freely, rather than being confined in a small, enclosed space.
The zoo's year long-search for the lions ended with success when the Nyiregyhaza Animal Park in Hungary agreed to the Israeli request.
White lions get their color from a rare genetic mutation and are indigenous to South Africa. There are an estimated 300 around the world.
According to some local traditions, they are considered holy and curse on anyone who hunts them. Nevertheless, they have become a popular target in the wild for poachers.
