Mohini, one of that first litter of white tigers, was bought by an American businessman and given to the National Zoo in Washington D. After a visit with President Eisenhower and a well-publicized country-wide tour, Mohini became a celebrity. The Cincinnati Zoo acquired her and began their own white tiger breeding program. In Siegfried and Roy purchased 3 white cubs including the first pure white without stripes cub for their Las Vegas act from the zoo.
Siegfried and Roy became the highest grossing act in the history of Las Vegas, performing for 25 years to sold-out audiences. This led generations of Americans to believe that a tiger is no longer a wild animal but a performing pet. White tiger popularity also gave birth to a breeding binge that emerged from the zoo system into the backyards of animal breeders who constantly tried to breed more white tigers.
The tiger faces many threats; trade in body parts, poaching, habitat encroachment, human conflict. What is vital is that organisations ensure their conservation funds support effective, measured and valid practices.
Most, if not all tiger conservation organisations actively discourage the breeding of white tigers. They have mixed ancestry. They are genetically compromised.
Their lack of genetic diversity serves no practical conservation purpose and they cannot be used in captive breeding or reintroduction programs. So even if an institution just purchases white tigers instead of actually breeding them, they have still fuelled the breeding enterprise. Many white tigers are bred that are unsuitable for trade and therefore have to be euthanased born with deformities, it is reported that as many as 30 to 60 cats may be destroyed in order to get one perfect-looking, profitable cub.
Zoos have stated that white tigers can act as ambassadors for their wild cousins. Currently no white tigers are found in the wild. All the white tigers alive today live in zoos and sanctuaries. During the last 20th century, only 12 white tigers were spotted in the wild. Currently, several hundred white tigers are in captivity worldwide, with about one hundred being found in India.
Their unique white color fur has made them popular in entertainment showcasing exotic animals, and at zoos. A white tiger at the Alipore zoo in Kolkata, India. A snow white Bengal tiger born without stripes is believed to be the only such animal living in the wild.
There are so many factors that can affect the growth and population of a particular species of tiger. Different diseases have various impacts on wildlife. Many animals die because of illness, and the causes of their mortality are not identifiable—many diseases, such as epidemics, spread, and damage animal health.
Most tigers die because of feline panleukopenia, tuberculosis, and Sarcocystis. Various studies show that direct killing is not the reason of declining in the number of white tigers. The main reasons are food depletion and habitat loss.
Every year, a tiger consumes pounds of meat to live. If we provide them a perfect diet and excellent prey base, we increase the tigers' numbers. Man and animal clash is another big reason that influences the number of tigers.
When a human enters the area of a tiger, it increases the chance of battle on both sides. Unfortunately, large numbers of men and animals are victims of the aggressive tiger. In return, humans kill the tiger for revenge.
The illegal wildlife trade is the biggest problem. In India, villagers can kill a rare tiger for rupees, but the big dealer and traders sell it in massive amounts.
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