Description
The white tiger is the most common of the differently coloured forms of tiger, but it is not an albino. Its colouring is caused by a recessive mutation, which appears only when inherited from both parents, and results from inbreeding. These animals often suffer from various health problems. Male tigers weigh around 210 kg on average, with a range of 180 to 250 kg; particularly large individuals can weigh around 300 kg or, in very rare cases, even more. Most tigers today live in India. It is estimated that there is one white tiger for every 15,000 normally coloured Indian tigers. White tigers are popular attractions in zoos. Tigers have excellent hearing and eyesight, which they use when lying in wait for and hunting prey, navigating their surroundings and communicating. A tiger can eat 18 to 40 kg of meat at one time. In captivity, tigers live for 16 to 18 years, and in exceptional cases up to 26 years.