White, Black & Golden Tigers

[Ashutosh]

@Rage2277, there have been many documented cases of tigers with colour mutations in the past when tiger populations were much higher so inbreeding definitely wasn’t the cause then. So, one case would not be such an issue as 1 in every 10,000 births is likely to be a colour variant.

What is tough to comprehend is that other tiger subspecies are also inbred (Amur tigers numbered 50), Indochinese tigers live in smaller populations than Kaziranga in their range but we have yet to see any other subspecies display any other colour variations.

As for Kzt106, she is at least 6 years old and she has not raised any cubs. She has been seen with male tigers and also was seen last year on a water buffalo kill made by a big male, so she is most probably his prospective mating partner.

I don’t know if she is infertile, but, she has survived in Kaziranga for 6 years (one tough place for any tiger). She was even camera trapped with some injuries which she recovered from just fine. Many people thought wasn’t possible for tigers of different coat colouring.

@Rishi, exactly. You just beat me to it. Reply