White tigers cubs draw crowds at Visakhapatnam zoological park

Visakhapatnam, Apr 30 (ANI): Three white tiger cubs and their mother have become the major attraction at the zoological park in Visakhapatnam, leading to an increase in number of visitors.

The cubs born last year were released for the first time in an open enclosure at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in the city.

"This is basically a very popular animal. These are very popular animals among people. So people love to see white tiger. So we can release at a time three-four white tiger at least for a period of one year, because once the male grows up it has to be separated from the female," said Rahul Pandey, curator at the zoological park.

" I have not seen white tiger; I have just seen the normal tigers. First time I am seeing the white tiger," said Sangeetha Phalani, a visitor.

White tigers get their colour, 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.

The overall population of tigers has suffered in India, driven by a demand for tiger skins and bones in China and the Far East for traditional medicines of the Orient.

Conservationists estimate that India is losing about 200 to 300 tigers a year due to poaching and other development projects, eroding the natural habitat of tigers and other animals. (ANI)