Carlita
Posted on 09/16/2013 10:37:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Recently, Carlita's health deteriorated quickly and her quality of life was poor with no possibility of improving.
Carlita, the 21-year-old white Bengal tiger who had been at Zoo Miami for almost two decades, was euthanized on Monday, the zoo said.
In May 2012, Carlita was retired to a special enclosure in a secluded quarantine area because she was starting to show signs of her age, the zoo said. Recently, her health deteriorated quickly and her quality of life was poor with no possibility of improving.
Carlita was born in captivity in July 1992 and came to the zoo two years later. She shared the exhibit with two other female Bengal tigers called Lyric and Roshe. She was the last surviving member of that group.
"White tigers were extremely popular back in the 80’s and 90’s when their rare white coloring and almost mythical background drew tremendous attention from the general public. Contrary to popular belief, white tigers are not a separate species or albinos but rather a genetic mutation of a typical tiger where a rare gene produces the white coloring" the zoo said in an email. "Since that time, zoos have shifted their attention from exhibiting genetic mutations to concentrating on species of naturally wild occurring animals that are in danger of extinction."
The zoo said that there will soon be a new exhibit of a pair of extremely endangered Sumatran tigers, and it hopes to breed them.
"If successful, it will be the first time in nearly 30 years that tiger cubs will be born at the zoo," the zoo said.
Carlita
Do Tigers qualify for a “kittyping”?
Poor beautiful white tiger — there is a nice photo of her too.
Carlita and Roche during happier times. White tigers are not albino. They are a rare mutation of the Indian / Royal Bengal tiger.
And then of course there are the Detroit Tigers which are a totally different cat altogether
Poor kitty.
Awwwwwww.
:(
...in a city that should be euthanized.
Say, Slings, could you put me on the Kitty Ping List please? My kitty (a wonderful 15-yr-old orange tabby who is my best buddy) indicated he'd like to watch more kitty threads while he sits on my lap helping me FReep.
Thanks!
I got to see several white tigers at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Gorgeous!
Anyone got dibbs on the leftovers? Would make one hell of a rug...
Far be it from me to get you in trouble with the boss - you’re added.
That they are.
Thanks for the beautiful picture!
Sigfried and Roy are maintaining a Habitat in Las Vegas that keeps white tigers also.
http://www.miragehabitat.com/pages/garden_whitetiger.asp
“The white tiger is white with black stripes, pink paws and ice blue eyes. All subspecies of tigers can carry the recessive genes to code for a white tiger; however, white tigers born in their native habitat rarely survive due to their lack of camouflage.
White tigers ARE NOT a subspecies, they are a genetic variation.
White tigers ARE NOT albinos. The coloration of these animals is due to leucism, which is a lack of dark pigmentation.
Almost all white tigers in zoological facilities are descended from one Bengal tiger named Mohan that was found in India in the 1950s.”
The first victim of ObamaCare?
What a magnificent creature.
Tigers are such gorgeous animals. One of nature’s best, in my opinion. Sad to hear the old gal had to be put down.
Tigers at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand.
White Liger
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