Mig Macario
Lab Worker
Search results
The white tiger or bleached tiger is a leucistic pigmentation variant of the mainland Asian tiger. It is reported in the wild from time to time in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, in the Sunderbans region and especially in the former State of Rewa. [1]
- Captivity
- Worldwide
- 20 years
- 3 meters (10 ft)
- They are white due to a lack of the pigment pheomelanin. Pheomelanin imparts a range of red and yellow pigments that produce the orange coloration of the tiger – and is found in other tigers, such as the bengal tiger, with orange color fur.
- They should be exceptionally rare. White tigers are often erroneously described as an endangered species, even in some zoos, and while they are very uncommon, there’s a good reason for this rarity.
- There are likely zero wild white tigers. Of the roughly 4,500 tigers left in the wild today, it’s unlikely that any of them are white. Despite hundreds of captive examples, this is not a trait that occurs – or should occur – frequently in the wild.
- White bengal tigers are typically larger. White bengal tigers grow faster and are generally larger than the orange bengal tiger, both at birth, and when they are fully grown adults.
Learn about the white tiger, a rare colour variant of the Bengal tiger or the Siberian tiger, caused by a genetic mutation that reduces melanin production. Find out how white tigers are bred, displayed, and threatened by inbreeding and habitat loss.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
People also ask
What is the scientific name for a white tiger?
How long does a White Tiger Live?
Is a white tiger a carnivore?
Are 'endangered' white tigers a ploy?
Jul 13, 2021 · White tigers are not a separate subspecies of tiger, but a result of a rare genetic mutation. They exist in captive facilities due to inbreeding and are often unhealthy and exploited for profit. WWF calls for more conservation of wild tigers and a ban on trade in their parts and products.
Jan 13, 2023 · Learn about the White Tiger, a rare and endangered subspecies of Tiger that has white fur with blue eyes and is found only in India and Nepal. Find out how the White Tiger is related to other Tiger species, how it differs from albinos, and why it is so hard to spot in the wild.
- Female
- AZ Animals
- Optimization Editor
- October 10, 1988
White tigers are not a separate subspecies of tiger, but a result of a genetic mutation called leucism. They are not endangered, but inbred, unhealthy and often bred for profit by captive facilities that supply the illegal trade. WWF calls for more oversight and action to protect wild tigers from captive facilities.
Learn about the rare and endangered white tiger, a Bengal or Siberian tiger with a genetic mutation that causes its white coat. Find out why white tigers are not bred in the wild and how they are exploited in captivity for profit.
