Breeding / Keeping exotic colours

[jayjds2]

Doesn't Nashville have something similar?

That used to be the case, but since then the two tigers have moved to a sanctuary. Their exhibit is being enlarged and when the renovations are complete it will hold Sumatran tigers.

 

[elefante]

If White tigers in captivity were still a morph of pure Indian tiger,as was originally the case, it would be more acceptable to keep/breed the two colours alongside each other. The problem is that pure Indians have disappeared in zoos outside of India, with all White tigers now being impure/generic.

It's too bad India doesn't seem willing to export any Bengal tigers. It would be neat to have both color phases in zoos outside of India.

 

[TheMightyOrca]

I know this has been discussed in depth but I have to admit that I do like seeing white tigers. They are beautiful animals. However, I do agree that priority should be given to the orange ones. This isn't to say that they don't have educational value. Maybe if a zoo had some space I could see keeping one (especially if it's a rescued one) to educate the public about that color variation. Doesn't Nashville have something similar?

I would love to see zoos use color variations to talk about genetics. That would be cool.

 

[Zorro]

I believe there was a bulk DNA testing of Tigers held in European zoos done some years ago with the results showing the bulk of so called Indian Tigers were in fact just that Indian Tigers!

 

[Chlidonias]

I believe there was a bulk DNA testing of Tigers held in European zoos done some years ago with the results showing the bulk of so called Indian Tigers were in fact just that Indian Tigers!

I think you may be confusing the subspecies.

In any case, for those interested, the international studbook link follows. Apart for some in Malaysia I can't see (from a brief run-through) any left outside India. Although Cincinatti had them until recently (females which died in 1997 and 1998).
http://cza.nic.in/International Studbook of Bengal Tiger.pdf

 

[bjarki07]

This is interesting in context of this discussion - not a wild white tiger, but certainly one whiter than normal, in Kaziranga. Just posted today.

Dr Rajesh Gopal on Twitter

Thanks for posting this, Maguari! I've never heard of a wild sighting of one of these golden tigers before. It's really interesting not only to hear of it, but to get to see the picture.