The white tiger is an extraordinary tiger species due to its inheritance of the recessive genes for paler colouration. 3 of these tigers are present in the Singapore zoo and made headlines recently for their attack on zoo cleaner, Mr Nordin. From the preliminary investigations and videos taken by visitors on that particular day, it was thought that Mr Nordin had the intention of committing suicide. This had led to him crossing over the barrier into the moat and tried to attract the attention of these white tigers using a broom and pail in his hands. Soon, the unthinkable and horrific incident occurred which killed Mr Nordin after a series of struggles and desperate calls from visitors in an attempt to distract the attention of these tigers failed to work. And so, the aftermaths will inevitably consist of a review and investigations towards the safety standard.
Questions were also raised as to how these animals should be punished. To me, it was a shock that such questions were being raised. First, if the animal was not provoked, they would not have made their attack on the zoo cleaner. This is basic instinct whereby self defense comes into play when one feel that they are endangered. Animals just express it differently from us humans and we should not fault them from doing so. Captivated animals are also harmless animals and has lost their predatory instincts due to the environment and habitat that they are living in. So if any party is to be blamed for this incident, it would no doubt fall on us humans. It is just nonsensical to kill and harm the other species that we humans think might endanger our lives. Animals do have their rights too. If we don’t harass them, then similarly, they would have given us their respect as well. This just shows how selfish humans are; to kill or destroy others that might endanger our living even when humans are at fault in this case. Disappointing indeed…
EDIT: For that cruel video – http://www.zshare.net/download/51623457f0122e19/
See it at your own risk. I’m not promoting it…
why are white tigers endanger?
Comment by chelsea — January 11, 2009 @ 10:10 am
OK firstly, the mortality rate is very high. Meaning that not all that are born will be able to survive for long.
Secondly, white tigers are very difficult to breed and it occurs in 1 in 10 000 tigers that are born naturally. This is due to genetic issues relating to the inheritance of genes.
Supposed in order to express the brown colour normal tiger, the tigers must have 2 alleles, NN or Nn. N being the dominant gene (the gene that causes the brown pigmentation) and n being the recessive gene (gene that cannot express the brown pigment).
In cases of Nn, the dominant gene is able to mass the effect of the recessive n gene so the tiger is still able to pigment the brown colouration.
However for nn (both recessive gene), the tigers would not be able to pigment leading to the white tigers that you see in zoo. The occurrence of this nn combination is very difficult to breed and occurs by chance.
Its the same as with albinos (people who are unable to pigment melanin). The condition can also be attributed to the inheritance of recessive genes which thus inhibits the pigmentation process. So if you see the occurrence of albino amongst you, you will see that the chance of occurrence is actually very low. Worse for these tigers, they are exposed to the dangers of hunting by humans.
Comment by SM — January 11, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
you have very important pic.
Comment by aman badaya — January 28, 2009 @ 12:05 am
White Tigers are the prettiest animals in the world. Tampa Bay Busch Gardens has a great exhibit on them. They have about 10 of them there.
Comment by Marybeth — February 23, 2009 @ 12:50 am
i love tigars
Comment by Anonymous — March 28, 2009 @ 2:16 am
White Tigers are not a species.
They are offspring of orange tigers, inbred over successive generations. It is a mutation of the color alleles. 40 to 60 deformed white cats have to be killed in order to get ONE normal-looking cat. It is EXTREMELY rare, almost nonexistent for white cats to be born in the wild, because they don’t inbreed 5-10 generations in a row.
Comment by Reina — March 29, 2009 @ 2:07 pm
That is the other way of getting white cats where humans play god and create random mutations in order to repress the pigmentation gene.
Comment by SM — March 29, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
white tigers are not endangered because they are not a natural species. look it up. one in 200 tigers are born white. they are product not nature. most white tigers are born with diformaties because pple keep bredding them to continue making white tigers. the ones born without diformaties are lucky.
i dont knw who said they are a species when truth is that they are of selective breeding. genetic mutation
Comment by Anonymous — April 3, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
The pictures I see on this website are amazing I have loved wwhite tigers all my life these pictures make me want to love them more
Comment by no tell — April 6, 2009 @ 6:44 am
people all over the world join paws
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Comment by Anonymous — April 7, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
WOW,so beautiful .I love all sorts of tigers.It’s incredible,we should be happy for the different animals we have in the world.
We should not get these animals extinct as they are beautiful creatures
Comment by ashley — May 13, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
I love white tiger a lot because they are so cute and so enormous!! I was so happy when i first saw them!!
Comment by lisa mendoza — June 7, 2009 @ 10:24 am