Siegfried and Roy welcome two white lion cubs

Two 3-week-old white lions, named Pride and Joy, have joined a wildlife conservation program in Las Vegas run by world-famous illusionists Siegfried and Roy.

The cubs, from South Africa's Johannesburg Zoological Gardens, join five other nearly extinct cats in the program.

Only a handful of the white lions exist. Along with Secret and Mystery, two cubs that arrived last year, Pride becomes only the third white male lion in the history of the Western Hemisphere.

"To solve the Mystery of the Secret of the white lion, nature has given us Hope -- then along came Pride and Joy," Roy said of the white lions. "These cubs represent the future of an important and majestic species and we have dedicated our lives to the vital task of preserving them for all time."

Because of their success with ensuring the futures of white tigers, Siegfried and Roy have an alliance with the Johannesburg Zoological Gardens.

The white lions are not albinos. They are born with white coats similar to the polar bear or Arctic fox. Unlike the snow-bound animals, the lions do not blend into their natural habitat.

Siegfried and Roy made a commitment to saving endangered species more than 15 years ago. From an original group of three white tiger cubs placed in their care, they have dramatically boosted the species' numbers. Today, their Royal White Tigers of Nevada family has grown to 33 white tigers.

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