Explore the Diversity Among Tigers: Black, White, and Yellow Tigers
Explore the Diversity Among Tigers: Black, White, and Yellow Tigers
Tigers are the largest cat species prevalently found in Asia. Interestingly, there are nine subspecies of tigers that grab human attention. The most phenomenal colour variations are black, white, and yellow. These variations also provide a deeper understanding of the genetic differences between the three species.
July 3rd, 2024
Black Tigers
Black tigers are rarely found in the forests of Odisha, India. They have dark patches on their fur due to the excess melanin in their genes. The condition that makes them appear the way they are is known as pseudo-melanism. The first time Black tigers were sighted was reported in 1990 at the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, India. As of now, observations of black tigers are less than 10 times.
White Tigers
White tigers are born due to excess Leucism which is nothing but a partial loss in the pigmentation visible in animals that’s why, they have pale or white skin colour, feathers, hair, scales, or cuticles. The first viewing of such a tiger occurred in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh in 1951. The presence of leucism leads to blue eyes and stripes on the skin. This first viewed tiger’s name was Mohan, confined by the king of Rewa. Currently, white tigers are seen in sanctuaries and zoos.
Yellow Tigers
Yellow tigers, formally known as Panthera Tigris, are commonly found and recognized worldwide, mainly situated across Asia especially, in Siberia and Indonesia. Yellow tigers have light yellow to reddish-orange fur with black stripes, effective for camouflage. 70 per cent of the world’s wild tiger population is seen in India.
Let’s delve into the scientific understanding behind the existence of these tigers:-
1 Color variation and Genetic Mutation: Genetic Mutation refers to the change in a sequence of DNA. The black tigers have a variant Tabby/ Agouti gene that is the root cause of black pigmentation. In contrast, the white tiger has the SLC45A2 gene creating excess leucism. The yellow tigers appear that way because they have pheomelanin and eumelanin pigments.
2 Ethical Debate: Breeding in zoos for colour is unethical because inbred animals face vision and health issues. Therefore, conservation efforts should be made to safeguard the well-being of these animals holistically.
3 Actions and Challenges: Globally, only 3,900 wild tigers are left as reported by the World Wildlife Fund. Illegal trading, wildlife trafficking, and unhealthy breeding altogether, adversely affect the well-being of tigers. Therefore, conservation projects should be encouraged and supported worldwide such as the Project Tiger initiated in India in 1973 which continues to contribute to wildlife.
4 Enhanced sustainability, developed infrastructure, public awareness, as well as initiatives and conservation programs on a global scale can help increase the population of tigers.
5 Tigers are of Indian heritage and showcase the culture. They are symbolized as strength, and victory over evil, and considered in Hinduism, Goddess Durga rides a tiger. There is deep respect and pride for Tigers in India relative to cultural, religious, and spiritual beliefs.
6 Tigers’ life expectancy is up to 15 years but if they are taken care of in captivity with healthy food supplements, without human poaching and habitat loss, they can survive up to 20- 26 years.
In conclusion, preserving wildlife is crucial for safeguarding the biodiversity of our planet, maintaining ecological balance, cultural significance, and intrinsic value, indicating environmental health- the presence of tigers means more clean water, dense forests, and a robust ecosystem, helping the biodiversity including humans.
Tiger preservation is vital for these principles and for addressing broader conservation challenges.
