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White Tigers

Discussion in 'General Zoo Discussion' started by kbaker116, 20 Aug 2009.

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What is your opinion on White Tigers.

  1. White Tigers Bad

    82.4%
  2. White Tigers Good

    17.6%
  1. kbaker116

    kbaker116 Well-Known Member

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    What is your opinion on White Tigers. From what I have heard from many is that they are inbred, and just a mutation with health defects, such as crossed eyes, clubbed feet, and cleft pallets.

    They are good for attracting visitors but are they good for the species? Are there purebred Bengals that don't have any Leucism in there genes.
     
  2. MARK

    MARK Well-Known Member

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    There are a number of threads about this topic which has been covered before
     
  3. dragon(ele)nerd

    dragon(ele)nerd Well-Known Member

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    I've read somewhere that the first white tiger belonged to the Maharaja of Rewa, and from then he wanted more of the creatures and bred them.
     
  4. James27

    James27 Well-Known Member

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    All inbred from him. Ridiculous, they need phasing out. It wouldn't bother me if a zoo told the public why tigers are white, but when they say they're a critically endangered species that's extinct in the wild... Argh!
     
  5. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    I agree with Ashley-h that they all want phasing out or been disposed of by other means,just think of the amount of space that could be freed up by getting rid of them all for other species of large cats that are ENDANGERED!
     
    Last edited: 21 Aug 2009
  6. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  7. kbaker116

    kbaker116 Well-Known Member

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    Ok tried searching for threads about white tigers and didn't find any, I will check the other threads out.
     
  8. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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  9. elefante

    elefante Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Kbaker, from what I have read white tigers have no conservation value. They are severely inbred and many are polluted with Siberian genes. I don't mind seeing them in zoos, but priority should be given to the orange ones IMO. As an aside, has anyone here ever seen golden tabby tigers?
     
  10. MARK

    MARK Well-Known Member

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    As stated above there are a number of threads covering white Tigers on the forum we dont really need another thread saying the same thing again
     
  11. dragon(ele)nerd

    dragon(ele)nerd Well-Known Member

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    apparently there are also blue tigers out there.
     
  12. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

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    The poll is a little simplistic.

    White Tigers per se are good - but the white tigers available in captivity are not.

    :p

    Hix
     
  13. kbaker116

    kbaker116 Well-Known Member

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    Well I was just trying to make it simple.
     
  14. elefante

    elefante Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Blue tigers have been reported but none have been confirmed. Melanistic ones have been confirmed.
     
  15. Baldur

    Baldur Well-Known Member

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    This is a too simple approach to the subject in my view. Good versus bad. Almost as the old one 'Are zoos good or bad'.
     
  16. kbaker116

    kbaker116 Well-Known Member

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    Well polls are more for simple answers. I am sorry next time a poll I make will be more details. Its too late now ok.
     
  17. dragon(ele)nerd

    dragon(ele)nerd Well-Known Member

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    I agree, they are good. as in majestic.... but captivity wise no, because of so much inbreeding.
     
  18. Jacobea

    Jacobea Well-Known Member

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    IF they are pure bred, non inbred white Bengal tigers (whether they exist anymore, I have no idea) then yes, they are good :)

    It's when they start hybridising and inbreeding them to create sick and crippled animals and then calling them an "endangered species" that things get really, really bad, especially for the animal in question.
     
  19. Arizona Docent

    Arizona Docent Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    NO, there are no melanistic tigers. What has been confirmed are tigers (especially from Orissa, India) that have unusually thick black stripes so that there is actually more black than orange. However, the undercoat is still orange (even though there's not as much of it). A truly melanistic tiger would have a light black (or very dark brown) undercoat with darker black stripes, visible only in bright light, just like the spots on a melanistic leopard or jaguar. I am fairly certain this has NEVER been confirmed.
     
  20. elefante

    elefante Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I thought I saw a picture of a hide from a melanistic tiger. I'm not saying I don't believe you Arizona Docent, but do you know where I could look?