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ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - Printable Version

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RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - peter - 07-04-2017

WHITE TIGER PHOTOGRAPHED IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIA


I found this unique photograph in the great thread of Roflcopters (B2 AND OTHER ...) yesterday and decided for a repost in this thread in order to enable as many as possible to see it. Remember Roflcopters was the one who first posted the information (Sanjay reposted the photograph).

I assume you remember the famous white tiger from Rewa about 6 decades ago or so. He wasn't the only wild white tiger in that region. Some time ago, I posted a letter published in the JBNHS about two wild white tigresses shot in the same part of India. The JBNHS also published a photograph.

This wild white tiger, however, was photographed in the southwestern part of India (Nilgiris). As far as I know, it's the first time that a wild white tiger is seen in that part of India.
  
Based on the size of the ears, I think the tiger is youngish. Vegetation not typical for low-lying forest. The photograph could have been taken in a more elevated part of Nilgiris.
   
Have a good look at the photograph, as it is unique: 


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RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - peter - 07-04-2017

ARTICLE ABOUT ALBINISM IN TIGERS (E.P. Gee, JBNHS, Vol. 56)


According to Gee, the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society recorded 17 wild white tigers shot between 1907-1933.

There's however no question that white tigers had been shot before 1907. Gee refers to one shot in Assam 1899 and Pollok wrote he had seen skins of white tigers shot in Assam well before that year.

White tigers have been seen after 1933 as well. The last of these was shot in 1958 in Hazaribagh (Bihar).

There are white tigers and cream coloured tigers. According to Gee, the only true white tiger, a female, was shot in 1922 in Cooch Behar. 

When going over everything I have, I concluded that white tigers have been seen and shot in most parts of India before 1960. But most is not all. I never read anything about a white tiger in southern India. In this respect, the white tiger photographed this year in Nilgiris is extra special.

Interesting read:    


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RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - peter - 07-04-2017

TWO WHITE TIGRESSES SHOT IN BHAGALPUR DISTRICT IN 1926

In his article on albinism in tigers (see post 1,213), Gee refers to a letter published in the JBNHS about 2 white tigresses shot in the Bhagalpur jungles in 1926. I read that letter as well and decided to post a scan.

F.B. Robinson wrote he shot a white tigress in Bhagalpur District in December 1926. Not long after, when he was out with a Mrs. Murphy in the same district, they saw another white tigress. That tigress was shot by Mrs. Murphy. Both females, large and thick-set, were shot in the same jungles, about 20 miles apart.

The taxidermists " ... to whom the trophy was sent, report that during the year 1926 they received three white tiger skins ..., but my skin is the only pure white one, the other two being cream coloured ... ":   



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RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - sanjay - 07-04-2017

Peter, this photo is currently sensation, but most of them is doubting about this. There is great comment going to this image posted in Claw group at facebook, Though person who posted seems to be good guy, but experts are in doubt, even all are waiting confirmation from forest department and NTCA. He has some raw images and people are asking for it, he have shown to some admins of the group and lets see what will happen, I am constantly following it

RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - peter - 07-05-2017

WHITE TIGER IN INDIA - ITS PAST AND PRESENT (Patnaik, SK and Acharjyo, LN - Tiger Paper, January-March 1990)


Although the first paragraph has more information about wild white tigers shot in India up until 1958 (the last one was shot in Bihar), the article mainly deals with captive white tigers and breeding them.

Up to 1990, all captive white tigers were descendants of white tiger 'Mohan' (captured in Rewa) and tigress 'Begum'. In the article, to a degree, the effects of inbreeding are discussed as well. Good read: 


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RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - Ngala - 07-07-2017

Article on the pale/withe tiger photographed in Nilgiris, India, with an ineditet shot. What a beauty!

Exceptionally rare 'pale tiger' photographed in the wild
Animal spotted by photographer in jungles of southern India may be the fairest known tiger living outside captivity

A rare ‘pale tiger’ discovered in the wilds of Tamil Nadu state in India. Photograph: Nilanjan Ray

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 A rare “pale tiger”, whose fur conservationists say could be the fairest of any in the wild, has been photographed in southern India.

“It is the palest tiger I have ever seen on the record or heard about in literature,” said Belinda Wright, the founder of the Wildlife Protection Society of India.

The animal was spotted last week by wildlife photographer Nilanjan Ray while driving in Nilgiri biosphere reserve in Tamil Nadu state.

Pale tigers, distinct from white tigers, are thought to have a genetic mutation that results in what biologists call colour morphism. It occurs in environments with large, random mating pools that allow for the varied exchange of genes.

Parvish Pandya, a doctor of zoology, said the birth of a tiger with pale fur was “quite a genetic chance”. He ruled out the possibility the tiger was albino, citing the lack of pinkish hue around its eyes.

Wright, who has spent decades in India tracking tigers, said she recalled only ever seeing one before, in the Ranthambore national park in Rajasthan in the 1980s. “But it wasn’t nearly as pale as this one,” she said.

The last white tiger in the wild was shot in 1958, and though some still live in public and private zoos, many suffer severe health problems due to a lack of genetic mixing.

Wright said the absence of white tiger genes in the wild meant the pale tiger in Tamil Nadu could be the fairest known tiger living outside captivity.

“You occasionally see lighter-coloured tigers, but they’re nothing compared to this one,” she said. “There are also some pale tigers in captivity, particularly in the US, but these are ‘cocktail’ tigers that are bred that way, with genes from white tigers.”

Ray said he was driving through the national park when he encountered an ordinary coloured tiger on the road around 200 feet away. The animal quickly fled.

 ‘We saw a white-looking tiger sitting on the hillside, half concealed by the undergrowth, and looking at us.’ Photograph: Nilanjan Ray

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“As we were slowly driving past that stretch, we saw a white-looking tiger sitting on the hillside, half concealed by the undergrowth, and looking at us. 

“It looked curious and cute, rather than scared or aggressive. And then another tiger, a normal orange one, appeared much closer to us,” he said. “They could be siblings, or mother and cub.

“They played hide and seek with us for a while before vanishing, but not before I had taken some photos.”

Experts he has consulted have speculated that the tiger had not yet reached adulthood and they were unable to determine its sex. 

The local forest department has been informed of the spot where the animal was sighted and have said they will install camera traps.

Ray said department officials had asked him not to reveal exactly where he saw the tiger, to avoid encouraging tourists or poachers.

RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - Pckts - 07-07-2017

I'd guess male based on muzzle size

Genetics of all tiger subspecies - parvez - 07-15-2017

Bengal tiger, 

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Sumatran, Indo Chinese, Malayan tigers,

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RE: Genetics of all tiger subspecies - parvez - 07-15-2017

Amur tigers, 

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South China tiger, 

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RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - P.T.Sondaica - 07-15-2017

(07-07-2017, 10:32 PM)Pckts Wrote: I'd guess male based on muzzle size


I have a question..
Why bali tiger is darker orange...bali is savanah and little forrest not tropical rain forrest like sumatra..

RE: ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris) - Rishi - 07-15-2017

(07-15-2017, 12:55 PM)P.T.Sondaica Wrote:
(07-07-2017, 10:32 PM)Pckts Wrote: I'd guess male based on muzzle size


I have a question..
Why bali tiger is darker orange...bali is savanah and little forrest not tropical rain forrest like sumatra..

Because the Bali tigers were originated from the Java tigers & evolution is a random phenomenon, not driven by an animal's needs but accidental mutations. 
For example; White tigers would have been immensely successful in the snowy siberian taiga coniferous forests. But unfortunately no such genes ever surfaced there. Instead in the greener forests of India, those traits have been seen multiple times (with the most recent case being in June 2017 at the Nilgiri mountains) every time to be outcompeted by their normal coloured cousins who are much better suited for jungles. That's how aimlessly it takes place.

RE: Genetics of all tiger subspecies - parvez - 07-15-2017

Genetic Study of Bengal tigers
Nepal Tiger Genome Project

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Consider yourself fortunate if you spot a tiger deep in jungle- an incredible thrill only few lucky ones get to experience. Sadly, there aren’t many of these beautiful beasts left in the wild!!!
Poaching and probably wildlife diseases have put their population at risk making them highly endangered. CMDN recognizes the key role such apex predator plays in the overall ecosystem, and hence has invested time, effort and resources to understand these animals in the wild through the use of genetic tools. CMDN in collaboration with Government agencies was the first to initiate the NEPAL TIGER GENOME PROJECT and has created Nepal’s first DNA database on wild Bengal tigers. CMDN is also actively investigating ways to understand this species in much more detail, including uncovering its diet profile and wildlife diseases.
Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, initiated two year project in 2011, with funding support from USAID Nepal and in collaboration with the governmentof Nepal's MOFSC and DNPWC, Virgina Tech (USA) and University of Idaho (USA) to develop comprehensive non-invansive genetic technology for broader conservation efforts of Bengal tigers in Nepal.
Samples from the terai arc region of Nepal are collected and are being genetically analyzed to obtain information on population size, genetic diversity and gene flow. It has trained many government and non-government staffs to build their capacity in non-invansive sampling, wildlife genetics and bioinformatics.
http://www.cmdn.org.np/ntgp.html

RE: Genetics of all tiger subspecies - parvez - 07-15-2017

Genetically distinct population of Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris) in Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) of India
Abstract

We analyzed mtDNA polymorphisms (a total of 741bp from a part of conserved control region, ND5, ND2, Cyt b and 12S) in 91 scats and 12 tissue samples of Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) populations across Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) located at the foothills of Himalayas in North Western India, Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), and North East India. In TAL and BTR, we found a specific haplotype at high frequency, which was absent elsewhere, indicating a genetically distinct population in these regions. Within the TAL region, there is some evidence for genetic isolation of the tiger populations west of river Ganges, i.e., in the western part of Rajaji National Park (RNP). Although the river itself might not constitute a significant barrier for tigers, recent human-induced changes in habitat and degradation of the Motichur-Chilla Corridor connecting the two sides of the tiger habitat of RNP might effectively prevent genetic exchange. A cohesive population is observed for the rest of the TAL. Even the more eastern BTR belongs genetically to this unit, despite the present lack of a migration corridor between BTR and TAL. In spite of a close geographic proximity, Chitwan (Nepal) constitutes a tiger population genetically different from TAL. Moreover, it is observed that the North East India tiger populations are genetically different from TAL and BTR, as well as from the other Bengal tiger populations in India.




Genetically distinct population of Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris) in Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) of India. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241120224_Genetically_distinct_population_of_Bengal_tiger_Panthera_tigris_tigris_in_Terai_Arc_Landscape_TAL_of_India [accessed Jul 14, 2017].

RE: Genetics of all tiger subspecies - parvez - 07-15-2017

Limited gene flow between two Bengal tiger populations in the western Himalayan foothills
The flow of genes between Bengal tigers in two reserves of the Terai Arc Landscape in western Himalayan foothills is too low, according to a study published April 26, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Surendra Prakash Goyal from Wildlife Institute of India, India, and colleagues.

Tigers are endangered partly due to habitat loss, which can fragment populations and reduce gene flow among them. Gene flow between populations can maintain genetic variation and spread beneficial gene alleles, so understanding the gene flow of isolated tiger populations i.e. in western Himalayan foothills is crucial in developing management strategies for conserving these big cats. Goyal and colleagues analyzed DNA from 71 samples of tissue, blood or scat from Bengal tigers to assess their gene flow in an 1,800-square-kilometer region of the western Himalayan foothills. The region has two main subpopulations of tigers, one in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the other in the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The researchers found that tiger gene flow between two reserves was asymmetrical and was lower than in previous reports in other tiger populations. Functionality of the corridor (C1 and C2 map) could remain viable if habitat quality does not deteriorate any more. However, given changing land use in the connecting corridor, the gene flow was inadequate. The authors suggest that measures to maintain connectivity between the tiger reserves could include relocating villages and industries, reducing human dependency, banning sand and boulder mining in the corridors.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170426141724.htm

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So, corbett and rajaji tigers are inbred though slightly.  Grin Confused
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0174371

RE: Genetics of all tiger subspecies - parvez - 07-15-2017

Subgroups of northeast tigers

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Genetics of assam tigers:
Northeast tiger genes unique, says study
The tiger population of the Northeast is genetically different from the rest of the country, an official tiger report has revealed for the first time.


The revelation was made in the detailed report of Status of the Tigers, Co-predators and Prey in India brought out by Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority that for the first time has dealt with genetic structure of tigers in the country to ensure effective conservation efforts.



There are mainly two large population clusters of tigers in the country - the northeastern population and population of the rest of the country.







"The tiger population in the Northeast represents a unique cluster when compared to those from the rest of the country. An interesting step would be to investigate the admixture of genetic material between these and the Indo-Chinese tigers ( Panthera tigris corbetti) found in the border areas of the northeastern states," the report said.



Senior professor at the Wildlife Institute of India and one of the authors of the report, Yadvendradev Jhala, said: "Tigers from the Northeast India are distinctly different in their genetic composition. This is likely as the Northeast tiger population probably forms a zone where there has been historic gene flow from Myanmar."



"This is the route tigers took to enter India and this process has been continuous, resulting in mixing of genes of tigers from Southeast Asia and India. It creates a different and distinct composition of gene frequencies in the region," he added.



Wildlife biologist with NGO Aaranyak, Firoz Ahmed, said: "The tigers of the Northeast have more chances to share its genes with the Southeast Asian tigers of Myanmar, Thailand and South China because of its habitat connectivity in the trans-boundary areas. Therefore, the Indo-Chinese sub-species and the tiger population of the Northeast India are likely to be very similar. Further genetic study may reveal this."



"The tiger population of the Northeast is significant for conservation as they may work as a stepping stone to exchange genes between the Royal Bengal tiger and Indo-Chinese tiger. This will help gene pool preservation within the tiger species," he added.



The report said the Northeast, Dibang and Namdapha formed one population cluster, while Manas, Kaziranga, Nameri and Buxa formed a second cluster.



Quantifying gene flow in tiger populations was also crucial to the understanding of how ancestry, dispersal and isolation operate in maintaining metapopulations, the report said. A metapopulation consists of a group of separated populations of the same species which interact at some level. The authorities also carried out non-invasive genetic sampling where tiger populations could not be assessed by camera trap because of logistic constraints like extremely low density. Scats collected in each landscape, across the country.



Under non-invasive genetic sampling , 12 tigers were found in Namdapha, Dibang and Dampa reserves in the Northeast, respectively.



Overall, in the northeastern hills and Brahmaputra landscape, Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong-Pakke-Nameri-Orang is the largest source (163 tigers) and should be managed as a single metapopulation. Enhanced protection in the region will help build prey and subsequently tiger population in the long-term, the report suggested.

Manas-Buxa, along with areas of Bhutan landscape, had potential to sustain higher number of tigers and were currently below their carrying capacity. Dibang and Namdapha show good promise for tiger and biodiversity conservation but needed more conservation investment, the report added.


https://www.telegraphindia.com/1160208/j...GZr3VR97IU