White tigers often catch the eye of guests because of their striking white fur. However, white tigers are purposely bred in captivity through inbreeding to make a profit. They are often used in the entertainment industry for this reason. We want you to learn more about white tigers so you can make educated decisions about the places you visit. Read about Saber and how he came to live at Carolina Tiger Rescue.
Fast Facts About White Tigers
- White tigers are not a separate subspecies of tigers
- White tigers only occur in the Bengal subspecies of tigers
- The odds of white tigers being born in the wild is 1 in 15,000 births
- The gene that produces white tigers is a recessive gene, both parents must have the gene for the cubs to have the potential to be white
- All white tigers in captivity are inbred, descended from a single white tiger that was captured from the wild in the 1950’s
Saber was bred for a magician in Las Vegas. His teeth were filed down and he was declawed to make him “safer” to handle.
Saber was born with crossed eyes. Due to the inbreeding white tigers can be born with a multitude of birth defects including being blind or deaf.
Long Lasting Effects of White Tigers
- When a facility is breeding white tigers, only 1 in every 30 is a “show quality” tiger, leaving the other 29 unwanted.
- Unwanted cubs are often sold for the pets or parts trade, into roadside zoos, or otherwise discarded.
- White tigers continue to be bred because they can be sold for a high profit and they attract attention due to their unique color.
Take Action
It is important to understand the truth and consequences about white tigers and how to help!
- Avoid places that breed white tigers. Facilities who offer this, do it for the money, if they are no longer making money, they will end the practice.
- Educate others on the truth behind white tigers. Many times people simply do not know the facts about white tigers.
- Visit accredited facilities that are committed to conservation or rescuing wild animals and that do not exploit animals.
