A Roarity - IV - The Chinchilla Mutation, A Recessive Gene And Not Albinism Gives White Lions Their Distinctive Colour. They Vary From Blonde Through Near White, But Some Can Also Be Red. A Most Recent Count Done In 2004 Put Their Number At 30. Because The Gene Is Recessive And Is Masked By The Normal Tawny Color, White Lions Remain Rare In The Wild And Only Occur When Two Lions Carrying The Mutant Gene Are Mated Photo