White Tigers: The Truth Behind the Myth
White tigers are some of the most recognized animals in the world, and some of the most misunderstood. They are often described as albino, as a separate species, or as a rare kind of tiger living in snowy forests. None of that is accurate. A white tiger is a Bengal tiger with an uncommon coat color, and the story of how that color became so familiar is worth knowing.
This article sets out what science says about white tigers, and introduces the white tigers who live at Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary in Tyler, Texas.
What is a white tiger?
A white tiger is a color variant of the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). It is not a separate species or subspecies, and it is not a Siberian or "snow" tiger. Its size, build, and behavior are those of a Bengal tiger. The difference is in the coat: white or cream fur where an orange tiger would be orange, with stripes that remain dark.
Are white tigers albino?
No. An albino animal produces no pigment at all, and a true albino tiger would have no stripes. White tigers have dark stripes and pigmented eyes, which shows that their bodies still make pigment.
In 2013, a research team publishing in the journal Current Biology identified the cause (Xu et al., 2013). White tigers carry a single change in a pigment gene called SLC45A2. According to the study, that change mainly blocks the red and yellow pigment that makes a tiger orange, and has little or no effect on the black pigment that forms the stripes.
Why are white tigers white?
The gene variant is recessive. A cub is white only when it inherits the variant from both parents. Two orange tigers that each carry one copy can have a white cub, and a tiger with a single copy looks like any other orange Bengal tiger. This is why white cubs were always unusual, even in the places where the variant existed in wild tigers.
Do white tigers live in the wild?
Not today, as far as anyone knows. White tigers were recorded from time to time in India, and the last known free-ranging white tiger was seen in 1958 (Xu et al., 2013). A male white tiger named Mohan was captured in Rewa, India, in 1951, and numerous white tigers were later bred from him for human care (Xu et al., 2013).
So the answer to "are white tigers rare" depends on what is meant. In the wild, there are no known white tigers. In human care, they are far more common than they ever were in nature, because people have bred for the color.
Why white tigers raise welfare questions
Because the trait is recessive and began with very few animals, producing white cubs reliably has meant pairing related tigers. The 2013 study points out that health problems seen in some white tigers in human care are linked to this inbreeding, not to the white coat gene itself (Xu et al., 2013).
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) addressed the subject in a white paper titled "Welfare and Conservation Implications of Intentional Breeding for the Expression of Rare Recessive Alleles," which examines the practice of breeding for rare color traits (Association of Zoos and Aquariums [AZA], 2011).
A white coat also has no conservation role of its own. Protecting tigers means protecting wild populations and their habitat, whatever color the animals are.
White tigers at Tiger Creek
Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary does not breed animals. The white tigers here are residents receiving lifelong care, and each has a story.
Nishchala was born on April 5, 2008, and is what is often called a "Royal White" Bengal tiger: white with dark black stripes. Nishchala came to Tiger Creek from a facility on the East Coast.
Mustang, whose name is pronounced "Moose-Tang," was born on October 17, 2012. She is sometimes described as a "Snow-White" Bengal tiger, because her stripes are light brown and far less visible. Her brother Bon is a golden tabby, another uncommon Bengal coat color.
Both live in habitats designed for their needs, with daily care and enrichment from the animal care team. More residents are introduced on Meet Our Animals.
Meet them on a Conservation Tour
See Nishchala, Mustang, and the other residents with a guide who shares each animal's story. Tours run March 1 through October 31 and are booked in advance.
What this means for visitors and supporters
A white tiger is a tiger first. The most useful questions to ask about any facility that houses one are the same as for any big cat: where did the animal come from, will it stay for life, and is the public kept at a safe distance? Since December 20, 2022, the Big Cat Public Safety Act has prohibited public contact with big cats anywhere in the United States, including cub petting and photo sessions. Our guide, Can You Own a Tiger in Texas?, explains the law in detail.
Guests can see Nishchala, Mustang, and the other residents on a guided Conservation Tour, offered from March 1 through October 31. Those who would like to support their care year-round can make a donation.
Sponsor a tiger
Help provide lifelong care by sponsoring a tiger for $200 a month or $2,400 a year. To set up a sponsorship, call 903-858-1008 or email visitorservices@tigercreek.org.
Frequently asked questions
Are white tigers a separate species?
No. White tigers are Bengal tigers with a recessive coat color variant. They are not a species or subspecies of their own.
Are white tigers albino?
No. White tigers have dark stripes and pigmented eyes. A 2013 genetic study found that a single gene change reduces the orange pigment while leaving the black pigment largely unaffected.
Are there white tigers in the wild?
There are no known white tigers living in the wild today. The last known free-ranging white tiger was seen in India in 1958.
What is the difference between a royal white and a snow white tiger?
These are informal names. "Royal white" usually describes a white tiger with dark stripes, and "snow white" one with very pale stripes. Both are Bengal tigers.
Does Tiger Creek breed white tigers?
No. Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary does not breed animals. It provides lifelong care for its residents.
References
Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (2011). Welfare and conservation implications of intentional breeding for the expression of rare recessive alleles [White paper]. https://www.aza.org/animal-wellbeing-relevant-aza-policies
Xu, X., Dong, G.-X., Hu, X.-S., Miao, L., Zhang, X.-L., Zhang, D.-L., Yang, H.-D., Zhang, T.-Y., Zou, Z.-T., Zhang, T.-T., Zhuang, Y., Bhak, J., Cho, Y. S., Dai, W.-T., Jiang, T.-J., Xie, C., Li, R., & Luo, S.-J. (2013). The genetic basis of white tigers. Current Biology, 23(11), 1031-1035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2013.04.054
