White tigress gives birth to triplets at Indore Zoo

Indore, Mar 8 (ANI): Three white cubs have been born to a white tigress at the Indore Zoo in Madhya Pradesh.

Authorities were delighted as tigress Sita gave birth to the white cubs. She was mated with a brown tiger.

"It has happened for first time in the state that a white tigress has given birth to cubs of her own colour," said Anil Jindal, zoo in-charge.

Sita was brought to the zoo last year.

According to the WWF, there are only about 4,000 tigers left in the world and are considered an endangered species.

India holds over half the world's tiger population. According to the latest tiger census report released on February 12, 2008 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the current tiger population stands at 1,411.

The results include figures from 16 tiger states and are exclusive of Jharkhand and Sunderbans. The state of West Bengal was covered only partially (i.e. North Bengal) during the census.

White tigers are rare because they suffer from a genetic condition that strips their fur of the orange pigment, leaving the animal with snow-white fur, black stripes and blue eyes. (ANI)