The white tiger (also known as the Bengal tiger)
is about 3 meters long, and weighs approximately 180-285 kg (400-569 LB). It
s coat lies flatter than that of the Siberian tiger, the tawny color is richer
and the stripes are darker.
White tigers are white colored bengals, they are not albinos and they are not
a seperate subspecies of tigers.
They have blue eyes, a pink nose, and creamy white furr covered with chocolate
colored stripes. White tigers are born to tigers that carry the unusual gene
needed for white coloring. Wild white tigers are very rare.
They are usually located on the Mainland of Southeastern Asia and in central
and southern India. The white Bengal tiger lives in grassy or swampy areas and
forests, where they can be well camouflaged.
Those living on islands have almost disappeared; most now live in zoo s or special
wildlife parks. Even though it is illegal, white tigers are hunted by poachers
in many Asian countries.
Tiger s body parts are sought for use in traditional Chinese medicine and exotic
recipes. As well as their body parts, their coats can be sold for a small fortune,
so to many people this is the ideal animal to hunt if they want some fast money.
WHITE TIGER FACTS
- White tigers are born to Bengal tigers that carry an unusual gene needed for
white coloring.
- Because they are solitary animals, they mostly hunt at night
- The White Tiger is a good swimmer, but a very poor climber.
- The other four sub-species of tiger are Siberian, South China, Indochinese,
and Sumataran.
- There are only approximately 5,000 to 7,400 tigers left in the wild.
- They may be slow runners, but they are stealthy enough to catch any prey in
their sights.
- It is belief that if you are born in the Chinese year of the tiger you are
unusually lucky. Let s hope that some of this luck rubs off on the white tiger
before it s too late.