mazfc
Well-Known Member
Aren't they colour morphs?
Colchester Zoo Death of Sasha - white tiger
- Thread starter OrangePerson
- Start date
Aren't they colour morphs?
The 'original' wild white tiger(s) would have been colour mutations of pure Bengal Tigers. However, the current zoo white tigers have been regularly hybridised with Amur Tigers over the years, at least in part to try to increase their size (the same is also true of the European 'Bengal' Tiger population). So they are not species hybrids, but they are nonetheless hybrids and do not represent a wild taxon.
If the zoo found some 'real' white Bengal Tigers I'd have far less of an objection. The only argument in favour of choosing white tigers over (or in addition to) a pure tiger subspecies is that they are pretty and the public like them (which means cold hard cash).
If the zoo found some 'real' white Bengal Tigers I'd have far less of an objection. The only argument in favour of choosing white tigers over (or in addition to) a pure tiger subspecies is that they are pretty and the public like them (which means cold hard cash).
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Yes they are do some research and stop believing the crap you hear from the LIONMAN tv series!!!
This really is goodbye as it would appear you still will not believe and listen to people that have actually done something other than believe everything they hear on the TV!!
Well, they're tigers and they're white, so they're not fake in that sense.
But the current zoo white tiger population is not of a pure subspecies. The original white tiger(s) would have been pure Bengals.
'Fake' isn't a word you can apply to any living animal really as they all have flesh,blood, fur and are alive so they are genuine animals and so can't be 'fake'. A 'fake' might be a cardboard or plasticene tiger done up to look like a real one.
I think more accurate words to describe White Tigers are 'artificially bred' or 'impure' or 'colour morphs' or 'variant' or 'hybrid' or 'product of genetic manipulation' depending on which aspect of them one is talking about. Which of those you happen to agree or disagree with depends on how you view White Tigers in the general scheme of things.
True, and I would stress that 'fake' was not my choice of word!
It is, however, possible for an animal to be a fake Bengal Tiger, i.e. a tiger that is not a Bengal presented as one, and in that sense could apply to many white tigers in zoos!
Agreed. However nowadays I'm not sure many places bother to pretend their White Tigrs are from India do they? They are just 'White Tigers' although some zoos' information boards and guidebooks etc probably still say 'White Tigers originated in India' etc
adrian1963
Well-Known Member
Do they get thier dangerous animals license cheaper for these (white) tigers as they are Black and white and not colour (sorry just joking)
I've never much liked the term 'Bengal' for Tigers. It seems rather vague and nowadays seems to cover all those tigers except the studbook registered ones.
karenZOO
Well-Known Member
They are actually brown and white
Whatever the rights and wrongs of white tigers, I do hope they do not get another one, as Sasha was a unique grumpy old sod and not just a 'white tiger' to some of us!! After seeing other white tigers ie the cross eyed one at WMSP and the paradise one. I must say Sasha was certainly very impressive next to them and didn't appear to have a 'genetic' inbreeding faults (IMHO that you could see). Colchester do seem to have a lot of 'special' animals over the years (as I am sure alot of zoos have) that cannot be replaced by just getting another one!
adrian1963
Well-Known Member
I was just joking about the licanse
I also hope that not just Colchester but all UK zoos stop having the white tigers and leave them for the Safari Parks as zoos could bring in other big cats to replace them.
I also hope that not just Colchester but all UK zoos stop having the white tigers and leave them for the Safari Parks as zoos could bring in other big cats to replace them.
Better than 'koala bears'
- at least Giant pandas are bears. I don't know how well the enclosure would suit it, but I've suggested dhole 
Better than 'koala bears'
They'd go quite well in there, they used to house them in the adjacent enclosure which now holds Short Clawed otter, Silver Leaf Langurs and Binturong.
Sounds good
. Personally, I think it's not the best idea to ask the general public what to get, since at the end of the day and in fairness, many don't know the implications etc. Many people are suggesting white tigers shoud be brought back (more so than not unfortunatly) but at the end of the day do these people know the true horror behind them? I think, ultimately, the only person that can decide what species is best is the curator, because they will know availability, whether the zoo has the resources to give them the best possible husbandary, whether the enclosure is suitable, whether it fits with any form of masterplan/collection plan.Most people will ask for something they know well or some other spectacular species they are familiar with, whether there's any chance of them realistically getting it or not..
If they are asking on Facebook maybe its by way of a Poll to see what species would be most popular and maybe as the Zoo is really for the public's benefit, then its not a bad idea. Of course the final decision will rest with the zoo and animal availability obviously.
My guess is it may stay as 'White Tiger Valley'...
If they are asking on Facebook maybe its by way of a Poll to see what species would be most popular and maybe as the Zoo is really for the public's benefit, then its not a bad idea. Of course the final decision will rest with the zoo and animal availability obviously.
My guess is it may stay as 'White Tiger Valley'...
GillP
Well-Known Member
Have just seen the Facebook discussion. So many people suggesting a 'breeding pair' .... apparently to 'conserve the species' etc. There's no doubt that Sasha was a magnificent creature and I'm sure no malintent is intended by most, but the FB thread really does highlight many people's ignorance about white tigers. Given Colchester's usual commedable honesty in sharing news about its animals, it's a shame they weren't perhaps more forthcoming about the origin of white tigers in the info provided for Sasha (though admittedly I'd guess a very small percentage actually bother to read the info boards). NOT replacing him with another white tiger - and explaining why in press releases, Facebook statements and so on - would be an ideal opportunity to educate many people about white tigers.