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Rare white lion cub born at Omaha zoo

OMAHA, Neb. -- A rare white male lion cub is drawing attention at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

Zoo officials said the white cub was one of three born on November 21. The public will get to see him for the first time when he is put on display alongside his brother and sister.

The color of the white lion is linked to a rare recessive gene usually belonging to lions from Timbavati in South Africa, according to the zoo's Genetics Department. The zoo says it was unaware its lions carried the white gene.

Zoo officials say lion cubs typically weigh about 3 pounds at birth and that their cubs weigh just over 4 pounds.

The cubs are currently nameless but the zoo is known to hold naming contests for newborn animals. It's currently holding an online contest to name a giraffe calf.

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