Four rare, fluffy white tiger cubs, born just a month and a half ago, have made their first public appearance at a Japanese zoo.
The cute cubs, measuring between 11 and 16 inches long and weighing just 11 pounds, were greeted by a crowd of visitors at Tokyo’s Tobυ Zoo, many of whom queried the cubs for more than an hour to see them.
Born on March 16 to seven-year-old tigress Karla, they are the latest additions to a global population of around 250 white tigers.
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Cuddly but fierce: Karla the seven-year-old white tigress sits with one of her cubs, which have been revealed to the public for the first time at Tobυ Zoo in Miyashiro, near Tokyo.
Playtime: The cute pups, who measure between 11 and 16 inches long and weigh just 11 pounds, were greeted by a crowd of visitors, many of whom asked questions for more than an hour to see them.
Small steps: They are the latest additions to a global population of around 250 white tigers.
Begal white tigers have a rare geographical anomaly and have always been extremely rare in the wild, but their striking colouring has made them popular in zoos and circuses.
Hundreds of visitors asked for the chance to applaud the new arrivals. Yυsυke Terada, an architect, told New Taпg Dyпasty TV: ‘Seeing such small babies, I felt very happy.
“And when I saw three of the baby tigers playing and their mother watching them closely, I thought, what a cute family.”
The open-faced female and three male cubs are still drinking milk from their mother, but are reportedly now also starting to show interest in the meat she prefers to eat.
Watchful Eye: Karla keeps a watchful eye on her little otters as they crawl around their enclosure.
Enjoying the super: The open-minded female and three male cubs are still drinking their mother’s milk, but are reportedly now starting to show interest in the meat she prefers to eat as well.
Hugs: A cub bumps into Karla. Begal white tigers have a rare geographical anomaly and have always been extremely rare in the wild, but their striking coloring has made them popular in zoos and circuses.
His father, Rocky, is still getting used to the idea of being a family map, and has recently seen his offspring for the first time from his neighbor’s cage.
“He only has the memory of Karla being there, so at first he had a look on his face like, ‘What are these? Something strange to me is here,’” said zookeeper Hiroki Itakυra.
“I think he might not even recognize them as fellow white tigers yet.”
Photo Opportunity: Crowds of zoo visitors hold up their cameras and snap photos to take family pictures.
Heart Warming: In this earlier photo, taken last month, Karla is lifting the cub into her mouth. The white tiger is a recessive mutation of the Begal tiger. Although they have similar attributes, white tigers tend to be larger.
Curious: Several hundred white tigers have been bred in zoos and animal parks around the world, but many conservationists say these efforts should focus on less-bred varieties of tigers, which are also threatened.
The white tiger is a recessive mutation of the Begal tiger. Although they have extremely similar physical attributes to the common tiger, white tigers tend to be larger.
Several hundred bees have been bred in zoos and wildlife parks around the world.
Many conservationists say these efforts should focus on less pure strains of tigers, which are also threatened with extinction.