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There is a certain controversy regarding white tigers. To bring everyone up to date, white tigers have genetically obtained a double recessive gene. A double recessive gene means that even if the mother and the father are orange but have the gene, there is 25% chance that a cub will turn out to be white. This has often resulted to zoos interbreeding white tigers to get white tiger cubs. Interbreeding means that relatives will couple. This often results to mutants which are cross-eyed and deformed. These tigers are often killed or kept away from public display and only those that look right are displayed.

Public outcry to stop breeding white tigers has forced a lot of zoos to stop white tiger inbreeding. However this practice still occurs on some zoos under the excuse that white tigers help gain awareness and help their orange coloured counterparts which are still in the wild. I agree on this particular aspect. White tigers tend to attract more attention as they are more exotic. With the correct and proper information, zoo audiences can find themselves carrying more for some animals they rarely get to see in the wild. Let's face it, even with the best circumstances it is hard to find tigers in the wild. Not to mention the travel expenses that for some of us are too steep.

Personally I believe that tigers and white tigers are both equally beautiful. My main argument however is that white tigers are not viable animals. Some genetic mutations have a reason that do not survive in the wild and white tigers are no different. A white tiger cannot camouflage itself in the wild and thus will have a much harder time surviving. By breeding an animal that most of the times will not be found in the wild you are cause a flow of misinformation to people not so educated about wild animals. Although white tigers will boost a zoos attendance and reputation they are no more than a marketing ploy most of the times. Claiming that the white tigers help boost tiger awareness is in my opinion is the wrong way to go about it. Should a white tiger cub occur at your zoo through no planned means apart from two none related tigers carrying the gene which is okay with me.

Can we do anything about it? I believe so. Proper zoo education should tell the audience that these tigers do not appear in the wild unless under rare circumstances. Encouraging zoos to display their regular tigers instead of their white counterparts and raising tiger awareness. One of the main problems that I find in some zoos is the fact that they market the white tiger as a rare subspecies instead of a genetic variation of the regular tiger which hampers conservation efforts for the actual tigers in the wild. Education will encourage people to love tigers for what they look like and not just the white ones.

In my own opinion is up to the public to make a statement for zoos to stop breeding white tigers. Boycotting zoos however is not exactly the right answer as zoos will suffer and will lead to further problems. One proper approach in my opinion is to let the zoo know that you do not agree with the inbreeding for white tigers, donate to wild tigers and sanctuaries that do not support white tiger inbreeding. Educate people and let them know about the situation.

In conclusion white tigers although they have their uses through education and public attraction they are unnecessary as people are already interested in regular tigers. The being said white tigers would attract more attention if they are actually bred naturally in zoos and occur more rarely. Support the sanctuaries that provide help and aid to inbreed tigers and educate and spread proper awareness.