White Bengal Tiger

Albino animals may be uncommon in the wild, but cases of albinism have somehow grown in animals held in captivity. For example, the white Bengal tiger, an albino mutation of the common orange Bengal tiger, is known to be kept and bred in zoos and nature reserves around the world. White Bengal tigers are extremely rare in the wild, but some have been reportedly seen in the areas around Rewa, Bengal, Assam, and Bihar in India. These giant cats have white fur with black or brown markings and may still show a little of their natural orange hue. In The movie 101 Dalmatians, the antagonist Cruela De Vil had a tiger killed for its fur coat.

Besides their color, another difference between the white Bengal tiger and common Bengal tiger is their size. White tigers are noticeable bigger during birth and while they are growing. Many scientists believe that the tiger’s recessive white gene is a size gene. This is also the same case in other tiger species such as Siberian tigers.

Many pure Bengal and Siberian tigers bred in captivity have produced litters with cubs that manifest the white tiger gene. Scientists are still trying to figure out where this white gene came from in the first place. Some suspect that this mutations originated from Bengal tigers alone, while others believe that the gene originated from the cat’s Siberian ancestors, theorized to have white coats. It’s a theory that’s possible, given that a tiger’s white coat and black markings allows it to camouflage itself in the Siberian tundra.

Aside from being highlights in zoos and nature reserves, a few white tigers have also gained popularity on stage. The most notable ones would be the white tigers trained by magicians Siegfried & Roy, who had a long running magic show in Las Vegas. The magicians referred to these tigers as “royal white tigers,” and were taught tricks that went along with the magic show.

White Bengal Tiger Video