White tigers reach Bhopal's Van Vihar National Park

Bhopal, Apr 28 (ANI): A pair of white tigers have been transported to the Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal.ften termed as the pride of Bhopal, Van Vihar is home to a number of animals, including the white tiger, the panther and the lion.

The tigers have come from the Nandankanan National Park of Orissa under an Animal Exchange Programme of Central Zoo Authority (CZA). In return, a yellow tigress and a pair of jackals have been sent to the Nandankanan.

"There was no tiger in the Van Vihar after the death of a tigress named 'Rini' in September 2008. The 18-year old white cat died of cancer a few months ago. Since white cats were the main attraction of this zoological garden, visitors were urging us to bring white tigers to the zoo," said S S Rajput, director, Van Vihar National Park.

White tigers get their colour, including blue eyes and chocolate stripes, through an unusual genetic condition and are sometimes bred intentionally as exotic zoo animals despite the risk of birth defects. (ANI)