Save the White Tiger

The white “tiger once ranged widely across Asia, from Turkey in the west to the eastern coast of Russia.”15 Now, white tigers may “inhabit less than
6% of their historic range.”16 Evidence of captive white tiger reproduction suggests that wild white tigers likely continue to proliferate.17 Yet, their proliferation in captivity suggests that they may prefer breeding in captivity where their offspring may safely reach maturity.18 White tiger breeding programs sponsored by Americans have been documented since at least the mid-1900s.19 Captive white tigers may have been part of human civilization long before recorded anecdotes from India indicate.20 One reason for this lack of knowledge about the extent of captive white tiger-human coexistence may be that white tigers have been labeled using a variety of terms, for example, white Bengal Tiger and Royal White Tiger.21 “Only three subspecies of tigers are being managed in the [United States]. The white tiger is not one of them.”22 Therefore, colloquial names are not relevant to the conservation debate.23 However, speciation may result after successive generations of genetic diversification, which may require more precise classifications.24

Another reason for this lack of information is conservation.25 This pattern is evident today because there are no concrete figures about how many white tigers live in the world or in the United States, and some rural Indian villagers say that they would never disclose the location of a white tiger.27 “Currently there are only about 60 Royal White Tigers on exhibit in zoos throughout the United States, and less than 400 in the world.”28 Thus, it is imperative to share their specialness with the general public.29 Advocacy for the white tiger is important.30 Yet, the arguments are complex because animal rights and welfare advocates intend to protect animals by limiting their proliferation.31 Activists believe that they can end cruelty by preventing breeding, trading, and exhibition.32 Some exhibitors intending to promote white tigers may subject white tiger cubs to problematic public petting events.33 Captivity has saved white tigers because they proliferate in captivity, and it may be the most viable habitat option for many of these white tigers.34 Continued appreciation by zoo patrons for their undeniable beauty and specialness reinforces that white tigers will continue to be bred in captivity and exhibited.35
Therefore, discussions about their comfort and care should take priority over concerns about their captivity or ex situ conservation.

Citation:
Carmen M. Cusack, Save the White Tiger, 12 J. L. & Soc. Deviance 1 (2016).

References:
15 J. Goodrich, et al., Panthera tigris, The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2015: e.T15955A50659951 (2015), available at http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-
2.RLTS.T15955A50659951.en.
16 Id.
17 Tigers in America, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (2016), http://cincinnatizoo.org/.
18 Id.
19 The Calgary Group (2016).
20 Rakesh Dixit, Behind 'the world’s first white tiger safari' in
Madhya Pradesh lie false claims and corruption, Scroll.in, April 8,
2016, http://scroll.in/article/806238/behind-the-worlds-first-white- tiger-safari-in-madhya-pradesh-lie-false-claims-and-corruption.
21 Secret Garden, Siegfried & Roy,
http://siegfriedandroy.com/?page_id=151.
22 Michelle Curley, Communications Director at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, email communication, August 3, 2016.
23 Id.
24 Charles Darwin, ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES (1859).
25 National Geographic, Wild American Tiger, available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1pU0UP4oFg.
26 Id.
27 Id.
28 White Tiger Discovery (2015). What is the White Tiger
Discovery?, available at
http://www.whitetigerdiscovery.com/wtd125.html.
29 Id.
30 50 CFR § 17.21(g)(6) (2016). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: U.S. Captive-Bred
Inter-subspecific Crossed or Generic Tigers, April 6, 2016.
31 See e.g. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA),
available at http://peta.com.
32 Id.
33 Id.
34 Id. See Audubon Nature Institute, available at http://audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo.
35 See Audubon Nature Institute, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
(2016).