At Pouakai Zoo, outside New Plymouth, there are three white Bengal tigers. We learned a lot from their keeper while we spoke at feeding time.
As beautiful as they are with their white and black coats and glimmering blue eyes, we discovered that they are purposefully inbred to get that way.
Sadly, their organs are severely damaged from inbreeding. They have to be fed often to keep their weight on, even though they will eat anything that is fed to them. Their beautiful eyes are crossed and badly developed with poor eyesight and no peripheral vision at all.
Their brains are not developed, either. Unlike 'normal' cats, these will defecate and urinate in their drinking water. And they still shock themselves on the electric fence up to 20 times a day.
Maybe it's fortunate that they only live about 7 years as opposed to normal Bengal tigers who live up to 30 years in captivity.
These gorgeous but sad animals are banned in NZ and there are only 6 left here. After they are gone, there will be no more in NZ.
Now you know the truth.
5 comments:
Wow I didn't know that. Terrible.
Thanks for sharing..
Now that is SAD! how horrible.
I had no idea! That is awful. And sad, because they are so beautiful!
How pitiful, even if they are beautiful.
There are more than 6 in NZ and they have been bred here, so they will go on, banned in NZ??? I don't think so.
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