There are bad hair days, and there are days when you cut your hair and have to spend weeks letting the result of an impulsive decision grow. Humans know these faux pas all too well, but at the zoo in Guangzhou, China, there’s a lion who can attest to them, too.
Indeed, Hang Hang is a male white lion who sports a truly confusing hairstyle. Seeing the photos of the animal, you will quickly understand why they have gone viral on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and Little Red Book. The lion’s bushy mane seems to have been cut into a particularly straight fringe at the forehead and the result is surprising to say the least. The questionable hairstyle is presented with such precision that people accuse the zoo staff of giving Hang Hang an unnecessary haircut.
However, the zoo’s management has repeatedly denied the claims and suggested in an official statement that Guangzhou’s high humidity may be responsible for the quirky appearance of his mane. The animal park also shared that the lion was able to achieve this look naturally through its own grooming routine, which is perhaps the most amusing explanation. Luckily, the silver lining is that Hang Hang doesn’t seem bothered by his unique hairstyle for an individual of his species.
A species of lion known for its fur
Hang Hang is actually part of a species of lion with a rare mutation known for its fur. The white lion ‘s fur , which can range from pale blond to bright white, is due to leucism, a less severe genetic mutation than that of albinism. This amazing species was declared extinct in the wild between 1992 and 2004. However, thanks to the Global White Lion Protection Trust, these lions were reintroduced to their natural habitat in 2004, and three herds are now thriving in the wild. Although Hang Hang resides in a zoo, it attracts just as much attention for its unique appearance.