no secret that in our time wildlife needs protection.But some animals of the Red Book, the white tiger for example, live only in zoos.This predator is not considered to be a separate subspecies.He is a special Bengal tiger, which observed a congenital mutation.Such deflection results in white color with black wool or light-brown stripes.In addition, such instances have blue or green eyes, that for the Tigers with the usual fur color quite unusual.
Habitat
Bengal white tiger - an animal that is found in the Central and Northern India, Burma, Bangladesh and Nepal.It should be noted that "Bengalis" often have a red color.But if you are born in the wild white tiger, then it will be very difficult to survive due to the fact that with such coloration will not be able to hunt successfully as too noticeable for its victims.
It is believed that these predators native to Siberia, and their color is camouflage in a snowy winter.But this is misleading, because the white tigers were still in India.
General
White tiger - an animal that is born with a frequency of one individual on 10 th. With the usual color of the fur.Reports of these predators were recorded for several decades, and they made mostly from Bengal, Assam, Bihar, but especially a lot of them were from the territory of the former principality of Reva.
first documented discovery of a white tiger is in the middle of the XX century.Then one of the hunters accidentally found the animal's den, where among ordinary white tiger cub was male, and took it with him.The man tried to bring him the offspring of the same color, it will happen with normal female.The first attempts were unsuccessful, but after a while he managed to get the second generation of white tigers.
Since then, after more than half a century.The population of these animals with unusual color is largely increased.Interestingly, all white tigers in captivity is now contained in various zoos in the world, are the descendants of the very individuals who once found a hunter in the jungle.From this it follows that all those representatives of the feline tribe had each other relatives.Now there are about 130 white tigers in captivity, around 100 of them - in India.Unfortunately, the last representative of these animals once lived in nature, shot in 1958
genetic glitches
As proved by scientists, a white tiger - an animal that is not an albino.Such coloring hair can be caused only by the presence of recessive genes.This means that the present tiger albino can not be black or brown stripes.If both parents have an orange color, but they are carriers of certain genes, the chance that they will have offspring with white fur, is about 25%.Now take another case.For example, if the parents are of different color, t. E. One white and the other - the orange, then bright chance to get the offspring increases to 50%.
As mentioned above, among white and albino tigers caught.These animals have fur solid color without traditional bands.In organisms such individuals coloring pigment, there is little, so their eyes are red because of the visible blood vessels on them.
white tiger: a description of the animal
Such individuals are often inferior to the size of their red brethren, and the slowdown in growth observed in them since childhood.As mentioned earlier, these tigers are white striped fur and blue or green eyes.Sometimes they have observed various birth defects caused by a genetic malfunction.These include clubfoot, poor vision and strabismus, kidney problems, and the curved neck and spine.Nevertheless, to argue that because of this, the infant mortality rate of white tigers is too high, it is not necessary.
These beautiful and unusual animals are all considered to be extremely valuable pieces.And this applies not only to zoos.Popular culture is also influenced by the white tigers, for example, some of the most popular musical groups dedicated their songs.
Amur tigers
must say that Bengal is not the only individuals who meet these gene mutations.Sometimes there are also white Amur tigers with black stripes.But this is much less common.
The current population of these beautiful animals includes both representatives of Bengal and the Bengali-Amur hybrid individuals.So now scientists have speculated, who are originally owned by the recessive white gene.
Despite the fact that from time to time receives information about the white Amur tigers, their very existence in nature has not yet been documented.Many zoologists believe that these mutations in this subspecies is not.Many zoos are contained Amur tigers with white fur, but they mongrel, as indeed were obtained as a result of cross-breeding with Bengal.
ratio
For many centuries, the white tiger (animal photos are presented in this article) was being enveloped in an aura of mystery.Sometimes these animals instilled fear or become objects of worship.In the Middle Ages in China, their image is applied to the gate Taoist temples.It was believed that the white tiger - an animal that can protect people from various evil spirits.He personified the custodian of some of the country of the dead, as well as a symbol of longevity.The Chinese firmly believed that demons have to experience the horror of such a formidable guard, so often adorn the graves of their relatives in the form of statues of this animal.
At the end of the 80s.the last century, archaeologists excavating the grave in the province of Henan, found the tiger figure, whose age - about 6 thousand. years.It was the mascot of the shells lying near the body.Today he is considered the most ancient amulet with the image of a white tiger.
In Kyrgyzstan, this animal said he can solve almost any human problems and difficulties.To do this, shamans, dancing ritual dance and gradually falling into a trance, the tiger asked for help.
But in his homeland, in India, there is still one thing to believe.It states that the man whom the luck to see a white tiger with his own eyes, will be granted full happiness and enlightenment.It is from this country, where it is seen as superhuman, but it is material and not the mythical, and it spread throughout the world.
