I hope you have enjoyed reading these articles as i have enjoyed writing them. So, today i thought i would be talking about the extinct species of the tiger, however, i thought it necessary to first talk about the White Tiger. Am sure you have seen one on documentaries and wondered, are they albino tigers? Well, here's your answer. It might surprise you.
The White (Bengal) Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
First of all, this is not a species of the tiger but rather, a rare form of the Bengal tiger that possesses a double recessive gene which gives it a lighter appearance. So, no, they are not albino tigers! Though you must admit, they are undeniably mysterious creatures and yes, they stand out!
The white tiger has blue eyes, rose-pink noses and light-brown or grey stripes that make it distinctive from its rust-colored peers. This rare form of genetic make-up occurs naturally once in 10,000 births. There have however been no sightings of white tigers in the wild for the past 50 years! They are now found in zoos and sanctuaries. Sadly, these creatures are being bred by exhibitioners who perform in-breeding between father and daughter, mother and son or brother and sister. This causes mutations that lead to deformations such as club feet, cleft palates, defective organs and spinal deformities. Furthermore, this gene causes the optic nerve to be wired to the wrong side of the brain, hence making them cross-eyed. It is listed by the IUCN Red List as Endangered with less than 200 worldwide.
White tigers are solitary animals who hunt at night and feed on wild deer, boars and livestock. They are incredibly fast, powerful and are good swimmers. The White tiger weighs up to 300 kgs and can grow to be 3 meters long. It is found mostly in the Indian subcontinent and roam the forest and grasslands. They however are not well camouflaged in these areas and are usually hunted down for their white coats and as exotic pets. As they are quite popular and bring in more money, in-breeders and exhibitors have continued to unethically breed these tigers for tourism. You may call this the white tiger fraud. Luckily, a programme called Species Survival Plan run by Dr. Ron Tilson was launched to help these innocent creatures by banning zoos from in-breeding as it played no role in their conservation.
There may not be much to say about this majestic tiger, but there is much to do to protect it from unethical acts of breeding and poaching that causes it to be endangered. Let's remember, we are their only voice!
Great Weekend! Cheers. :)
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