In a rare occurrence, a white Bengal tiger named Jingjing gave birth to six cubs at Enjoyland Conservation and Education Centre in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. They are a genetic variation of orange Bengal tigers and are extremely rare and endangered. The birth of six cubs at a time is a unique phenomenon, making their rearing and caretaking a huge challenge for the zookeepers.
Genetic defect causes white coloration
They get their unique white coloration due to a genetic defect that is passed on from parents to cubs. They lack protective coloration, making it hard for them to survive in the wild. The species enjoys first-class national protected animal status in China, where they are considered rare and endangered.
Rare litter of six White Bengal Tiger cubs
White tigers, as per China Daily, typically give birth to one to four cubs at a time. However, Jingjing gave birth to a litter of six white Bengal tiger cubs, consisting of two males and four females. Xu Fu, head of the Animal Management Department of the zoo, said that white tiger sextuplets are rarely seen and taking care of them is a significant challenge.
Artificial breeding and caretaking
To ease the stress on the mother tiger and take proper care of the sextuplets, the zookeepers adopted the method of artificial breeding. The zookeepers at Zhengzhou Zoo have developed a unique parenting plan to care for the rare white tiger sextuplets. They are being cared for by human staff in a nursery with an incubator set to a constant temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, which will help the mother tiger raise her offspring.
Zookeepers take care of the cubs around the clock and weigh them every day. They feed them milk once every two hours and massage their abdomens every day to help with digestion and excretion. Taking care of the sextuplets is an enormous responsibility, but the zookeepers are doing their best to ensure the cubs grow up healthy and strong.
Rare and endangered species
They are a rare and endangered species, and their unique genetic makeup makes them even more vulnerable. They have a hard time surviving in the wild due to their lack of protective coloration, and their breeding is often limited to zoos and conservation centers. The birth of six white Bengal tiger cubs is an incredible occurrence, and it is heartening to see the zookeepers taking such good care of them.
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The birth of six white Bengal tiger cubs in a single delivery is a rare phenomenon, making it a huge challenge for zookeepers to take care of them. The sextuplets are receiving around-the-clock care, with zookeepers acting as human parents to ensure their proper development. They are a rare and endangered species, and their unique genetic makeup makes them even more vulnerable. We can only hope that the sextuplets grow up healthy and strong, and continue to contribute to the survival of their species.