Two of three 14-week-old lion cubs are photographed through netting on Thursday, July 17, 2014, at the Secret Garden at The Mirage. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
White lion cubs rub against each other during an event to welcome the cubs to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Las Vegas. Three white lion cubs, born in South Africa, are scheduled to be available for public viewing Friday. (AP Photo/John Locher)
White lion cubs sit next to each other during an event to welcome the cubs to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Las Vegas. Three white lion cubs, born in South Africa, are scheduled to be available for public viewing Friday. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A white lion cub climbs on a log during an event to welcome three white lion cubs to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Las Vegas. The three white lion cubs, born in South Africa, are scheduled to be available for public viewing Friday. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A white lion cub plays on the ground during an event to welcome three white lion cubs to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Las Vegas. The three white lion cubs, born in South Africa, are scheduled to be available for public viewing Friday. (AP Photo/John Locher)
White lion cubs look on during an event to welcome three cubs to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Las Vegas. The three white lion cubs, born in South Africa, are scheduled to be available for public viewing Friday. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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Siegfried Fischbacher speaks with the media during an event to welcome three white lion cubs to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Las Vegas. The three white lion cubs, born in South Africa, are scheduled to be available for public viewing Friday. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Siegfried Fischbacher, left, and Roy Horn were at the unveiling of three 14-week-old lion cubs at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Two of three 14-week-old lion cubs at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
One of three 14-week-old lion cubs plays at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Magician Roy Horn plays with a 14-week-old lion cub at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Two of three 14-week-old lion cubs play at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014.The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Two of three 14-week-old lion cubs play at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17,2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Three 14-week-old lion cubs are photographed through netting at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Two of three 14-week-old lion cubs are photographed through netting at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Melody Hitzhusen, animal team supervisor, plays with a 14-week-old lion cub at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July, 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Melody Hitzhusen, animal team supervisor, plays with a 14-week-old lion cub at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July, 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Magician Roy Horn, left and Siegfried Fischbacher stand between a 14-week-old lion cub at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
One of three 14-week-old lion cubs lies beside magician Roy Horn at the Secret Garden at The Mirage on Thursday, July 17, 2014. The cubs were introduced by magicians Siegfried & Roy and are named Freedom; Madiba, in honor of Nelson Mandela’s tribal name; and Timba-Masai, in honor of the white lion’s origin and the Masai tribe in Africa. (Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Magicians Siegfried & Roy welcomed three new snowy white lion cubs to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat on the Las Vegas Strip.
The 14-week-old felines were born near Johannesburg, South Africa, and brought to the Mirage casino three weeks ago. They will be available for public viewing starting on Friday.
“Millions of people each year visit the Secret Garden and are awed by these great creatures,” Siegfried Fischbacher said in a statement. “One by one, we are raising awareness for the plight of rare and endangered animals — our true mission.”
The brothers are named Freedom, Madiba — the tribal name of Nelson Mandela — and Timba-Masai, which combines the names of the Timbavati region of South Africa and the name of the Masai tribe that lives there.
The lion have rare white coats after inheriting their parents’ recessive genes. They are expected to weigh 500 pounds each when they reach their full size in two to four years.
Fischbacher and Roy Horn discontinued their magic stage show after a white tiger named Mantecore attacked Horn during a 2003 performance, leaving him partially paralyzed.
But they continue maintaining the Secret Garden zoo, which now features 13 tigers and six lions.
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