Black and white miracles: Rare white Bengal tiger triplets born in Czech zoo

By ALEX WARD

Mother and cub: White Bengal tigers are only born one in every 10,000 so triplets born to mother Surya Bara at in a Czech Republic zoo are a cute, black and white miracle

White tigers are so rare that only one in every 10,000 Bengal tigers is born white with black stripes and a pink nose.
So when triplets were born in captivity in July, the white cubs proved to be a cute, black and white miracle.
The cubs are living with their mother Surya Bara in ZOO Liberec in the Czech Republic and now the public has been asked to name one of them.
From more than 2200 suggestions, the zoo has narrowed it down to five names - Liam, Samburu, Sigmar, Titan or Woody – for one of the male cubs.

Name the baby boy: The public has been asked to vote for their favourite name for one of the boy cubs from five choices: Liam, Samburu, Sigmar, Titan or Woody


According to Czech news website iDNES.cz, voting polls will open tomorrow.
The other male and female cubs will be named by the zoo keepers.
During a veterinary examination in August, the two males weighed around 15lbs and the female around 14lbs.
The triplets will be baptized on Saturday according to iDNES.cz.
At ZOO Liberec, the oldest zoo in Czech Republic, two lions killed a 17-year-old white tigress after entering her enclosure in 2009.
Zoo workers were alerted by the tiger’s cries but were unable to stop the killing.

Genetic hiccup: The white tiger is not albino nor a separate subspecies but the result of a rare recessive gene

White Bengal tigers are neither an albino nor a separate subspecies. Instead, they are a result of a rare recessive gene.
In the past century only 12 have been spotted in the wild. Most survive in captivity because they do not survive long in the wild as they struggle to catch prey because their colouration stands out in the jungle.
Bengal tigers are fully grown at two to three years of age and live for up to 15 years in the wild.
Males weigh 440-500lbs and grow up to nine feet in length. The females are 285-375lbs and grow up to eight feet long.

Survival in the wild: White Bengal tigers do not survive long in the wild as they struggle to catch their prey because their colouration stands out in the jungle

source: dailymail

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A three-month-old Bengal Tiger plays with a three-month-old lion cub at a zoo in Puerto Vallarta

A three-month-old Bengal Tiger plays with a three-month-old lion cub at a zoo in Puerto Vallarta October 13, 2011. The keepers at the zoo educate visitors and raise awareness on endangered animals around the world. The park's own tiger breeding programme has enjoyed success with more than 20 tigers born since 2010 including a rare white Bengal tiger, according to zoo vet Martin Martinz. Picture taken October 13, 2011.


A Bengal Tiger cub is seen at a zoo in Puerto Vallarta October 13, 2011. The keepers at the zoo educate visitors and raise awareness on endangered animals around the world. The park's own tiger breeding programme has enjoyed success with more than 20 tigers born since 2010 including a rare white Bengal tiger, according to zoo vet Martin Martinz. Picture taken October 13, 2011.







source: daylife
photo: Reuters pictures

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A tourist takes a snapshot of a couple of Bengal tigers

A tourist takes a snapshot of a couple of Bengal tigers presented on April 29, 2011 at the zoo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The tigers were named Prince William and princess Kate after Prince William and Kate Middleton' s royal wedding in London on Friday.



A couple of Bengal tigers presented on April 29, 2011 at the zoo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, lie in their cage. The tigers were named Prince William and princess Kate after Prince William and Kate Middleton' s royal wedding in London on Friday.



A female Bengal tiger in her cage at the zoo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 29, 2011.



A female Bengal tiger in her cage at the zoo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 29, 2011.

source : daylife
photo: gettyimages

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Ten year-old Royal Bengal Tigress 'Ananya' is cooled by water

Ten year-old Royal Bengal Tigress 'Ananya' is cooled by water sprayed by staff into her enclosure at The Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Ahmedabad on April 15, 2011. Special arrangements to keep the zoo animals cool have been made by the authorities owing to rising summer temperatures.



Ten year-old Royal Bengal Tigress 'Ananya' cools herself by sitting in water inside her enclosure at The Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Ahmedabad on April 15, 2011.



Ten year-old Royal Bengal Tigress 'Ananya' cools herself by sitting in water inside her enclosure at The Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden in Ahmedabad on April 15, 2011. Special arrangements to keep the zoo animals cool have been made by the authorities owing to rising summer temperatures.


source: daylife
photo: Gettyimages

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Saved by an inflatable dolphin: Trainer has lucky escape after slipping while 'playing' with a white Bengal tiger

By Mail Foreign Service

Moment of terror: The panic can clearly be seen on trainer Jeff Harwell's face as he slips to the ground while being chased by a white Bengal tiger in Arizona


A wildlife park worker had a lucky escape after slipping during a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a giant Bengal white tiger.

A crowd of onlookers held their breath as the park worker narrowly escaped a mauling after falling over while running from the fearsome beast.

The dramatic scene was captured during a daily 'tiger splash' event at the Out of Africa Wildlife Park, in Arizona, U.S.


Only hope: The quick-thinking Mr Harwell immediately tries to distract the tiger with the inflatable dolphin they were using for the game


Park worker Jeff Harwell participates as the prey during a daily routine with the cats, where they chase an inflatable toy being held by him.

The tigers are usually so excited about capturing and popping the toy they do not harm the park workers.

The workers then jump into a pool with the tiger at the end of the game.

But this time Mr Harwell slipped over on the wet grass - and found himself between the two-year-old white tiger called Chalet and his inflatable toy.


The tigers are supposed to chase and pop the inflatable toys, rather than the trainers - and sure enough Chalet's attention is diverted as the dolphin sails over his head


Chalet reaches out a lethal paw to claw the toy as Mr Harwell quickly rolls to his feet, ready to flee if necessary


Thinking quickly, Mr Harwell managed to throw the toy into the pool, distracting the young tiger.

Chalet leapt in to the pool after the toy, as Mr Harwell scrambled to his feet.
Gasps of horror were heard from the audience.

But Mr Harwell - who was unharmed in the incident - continued to play with the tigers.

The tigers who are not being trained to perform tricks at the park but are playing these games to tap into their natural instincts.


With Chalet safely distracted by the toy, Mr Harwell has had a lucky escape - unlike the dolphin


Wildlife photographer Kathleen Reeder, who took the pictures said: 'It's an unbelievable event to watch and even more unbelievable when situations like this occur.

'The reaction of the crowd was nothing less than jaw dropping.

'We could tell Jeff's fall was unexpected and that he could easily be injured if he didn't react instantaneously.

'The other park workers were ready to jump in to help and watched intently while he reacted swiftly.

'Without missing a step, Jeff successfully diverted the tiger's attention, and the show went on as though this is all part of the event.

'The tigers are treated with a lot of loving care, so the workers are more like friends and the tigers have no reason to intentionally hurt them.

'However, they have to be very careful when doing this event to avoid accidents resulting from the cats just being cats.'


source :dailymail

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