White tigers have white or almost white fur, and their unique coloration is caused by a recessive gene.
There aren’t many white tigers left in the wild due to over-hunting of their pelts, and they are considered an endangered species.
White tigers are a rare sight, and their eye-catching whiteness puts them at a disadvantage when they’re trying to sneak up on prey.
However, the place where a white coat would be an advantage is in a zoo, and more than a hundred white tigers live in various zoos around the world.
All of them are the descendants of a white cub that was caught in India in 1951 and given to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Unfortunately, the white tigers on display are the result of severe inbreeding of siblings, cousins, and parents mated to their own cubs.
This single-minded determination on the part of humans to have a supply of the crowd-pleasing white tigers has resulted in deformities like back problems, hip dislocation, and crossed eyes.
Because of these genetic problems, hundreds of cubs have had to be destroyed along the way.
Currently, there are only a few thousand white tigers left in the wild.
These are the hazards of show business.
Related Posts
-
How Difficult is it to Breed Tigers in Captivity and Do Zoos Still Capture Tigers From The Wild?
Tigers are pretty easy going about breeding in captivity and in the wild for that matter. Mating of tigers can occur all year round, but it is usually more common between the months…
-
Why are Cheetahs an Endangered Species and How Many Cheetahs are Left in the Wild?
Cheetahs are currently on the US Endangered Species Act, and listed as a threatened species. Cheetah cubs have a high mortality rate because of genetic factors and predation by carnivores in such as…
-
How many Camels are there Left in the Wild and How many are Extinct or Endangered?
In their native habitat, it's estimated that there are only about 500 wild Asian camels and no Arabian ones at all. The Bactrian camel is now reduced to about 1.4 million animals, mostly…
-
Why Is Hawaii Called the Endangered Species Capital of the World?
The state of Hawaii has 316 species of plants and animals on the U.S. endangered species list, more than a third of the total list. The problem began a few hundred years ago…
-
How do scientists determine whether a species is endangered or extinct?
A very small mammal or insect endemic to a particular area might be considered endangered while several million are still known to be alive, but a lesser number of another species, spread out…
-
Do Lions and Tigers Ever Meet in the Wild?
Because many people think that lions and tigers both live in Africa, they may wonder which of these giant cats proves the strongest when they tangle. But there isn't a single wild tiger…
