Nature
15:53, 15-Oct-2018
White tiger triplets make first public appearance in SW China
Updated
15:33, 18-Oct-2018
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Three playful white Bengal tiger cubs are charming visitors as they clamber around their enclosure at a zoo in China.
The rare, blue-eyed triplets were born nearly three months ago at the Yunnan Wildlife Zoo in Kunming, and made their public debut in early October.
Two rare blue-eyed cubs. /AFP Photo
Two rare blue-eyed cubs. /AFP Photo
"The oldest one -- the largest -- is very naughty and has a real appetite. He's the naughtiest. The youngest is like a baby, she's gentle. She never wins when fighting for food," zookeeper Hao Li said.
Breeders help the new mother feed the cub. /AFP Photo
Breeders help the new mother feed the cub. /AFP Photo
The cubs' busy mother is getting a helping hand keeping her youngsters from getting hungry, with keepers always ready to step in with a bottle.
The tigers' white fur is a genetic variation of the common orange Bengal tiger.
The mutation seldom occurs in the wild, but the zoo is home to 41 cats of this rare white variety.
The white Bengal tiger is resting. /AFP Photo
The white Bengal tiger is resting. /AFP Photo
There are currently more than 2,500 Bengal tigers outside captivity, most of them in India, according to conservation group World Wildlife Fund.
A young white Bengal tiger. /AFP Photo
A young white Bengal tiger. /AFP Photo
A competition is being held to name the three newborns, with final names chosen at the end of October.
Source(s): AFP