Genetic defects White tiger

a deformed white tiger

the orange litter-mates of white tigers not prone strabismus. siamese cats , albinos of every species have been studied exhibit same visual pathway abnormality found in white tigers. siamese cats cross-eyed, albino ferrets. visual pathway abnormality first documented in white tigers in brain of white tiger called moni after died, although eyes of normal alignment. abnormality there disruption in optic chiasm. examination of moni s brain suggested disruption less severe in white tigers in siamese cats. because of visual pathway abnormality, optic nerves routed wrong side of brain, white tigers have problem spatial orientation, , bump things until learn compensate. tigers compensate crossing eyes. when neurons pass retina brain , reach optic chiasma, cross , not, visual images projected wrong hemisphere of brain. white tigers cannot see normal tigers , suffer photophobia, albinos.

other genetic problems include shortened tendons of forelegs, club foot, kidney problems, arched or crooked backbone , twisted neck. reduced fertility , miscarriages, noted ”tiger man” kailash sankhala in pure-bengal white tigers, attributed inbreeding depression. condition known star-gazing (the head , neck raised straight up, if affected animal gazing @ stars), associated inbreeding in big cats, has been reported in white tigers. white tigers born north american lines have bulldog faces snub nose, jutting jaw, domed head , wide-set eyes indentation between eyes. however, of these traits may linked poor diet rather inbreeding.

there 450 lb (200 kg) male cross-eyed white tiger @ pana ewa rainforest zoo in hawaii, donated zoo las vegas magician dirk arthur. there picture of white tiger appears cross-eyed on 1 side in siegfried & roy s book mastering impossible. white tiger, named scarlett o hara, tony s sister, cross-eyed on right side.

a male white tiger named cheytan, son of bhim , sumita born @ cincinnati zoo, died @ san antonio zoo in 1992 anaesthesia complications during root canal therapy. appears white tigers react strangely anaesthesia. best drug immobilizing tiger ci 744, few tigers, white ones in particular, undergo re-sedation effect 24–36 hours later. due inability produce normal tyrosinase, trait share albinos, according zoo veterinarian david taylor. treated pair of white tigers cincinnati zoo @ fritz wurm s safari park in stukenbrock, germany, salmonella poisoning, reacted strangely anaesthesia.

mohini checked chédiak-higashi syndrome in 1960, results inconclusive. condition similar albino mutations , causes bluish lightening of fur color, crossed eyes, , prolonged bleeding after surgery. also, in event of injury, blood slow coagulate. condition has been observed in domestic cats, there has never been case of white tiger having chédiak-higashi syndrome. there has been single case of white tiger having central retinal degeneration, reported milwaukee county zoo, related reduced pigmentation in eye. white tiger in question male named mota on loan cincinnati zoo.

there myth white tigers have 80% infant mortality rate. however, infant mortality rate white tigers no higher normal orange tigers bred in captivity. cincinnati zoo director ed maruska said: have not experienced premature death among our white tigers. forty-two animals born in our collection still alive. mohan, large white tiger, died short of 20th birthday, enviable age male of subspecies, since males live shorter captive lives. premature deaths in other collections may artifacts of captive environmental conditions...in 52 births had 4 stillbirths, 1 of unexplained loss. lost 2 additional cubs viral pneumonia, not excessive. without data non-inbred tiger lines, difficult determine whether number high or low degree of accuracy. ed maruska addressed issue of deformities: other case of hip dysplasia occurred in male white tiger, have not encountered other body deformities or physiological or neurological disorders. of these reported maladies in mutant tigers in other collections may direct result of inbreeding or improper rearing management of tigers generally.