White and genetically deformed

PHOTO: Matthew Mason

That's it. I quit. Quit quit quit. Because how I am expected to concentrate with slide shows of three white baby tiger cubs are floating around the Internet. It's enough to get on a plane and head straight to Argentina. If that isn't enough to drive you completely raving, what about FOUR baby white lions, now on public display at the West Midlands Safari Park in the UK. Sickening...(I have to go and watch my box set of Kimba the White Lion now, thank you).

On a side/scientific note, white lions and tigers are, well, sad creatures. Both are recessive colour mutations that would probably lead to death in the wild - more visible to enemies and prey. But we hysterical idiots seem to like them so the zoos just breed breed breed away. Never mind the inbreeding depression from an already weeny gene pool..(and I am talking REAL inbreeding here, like fathers and daughter and brothers and sisters).Big Cat Rescue, in Tampa Florida estimates that 80% of white tiger cubs die from congenital defects due to inbreeding. Basically, it's a big old scam. And MAN do we fall for it.

Now curse yourself for ever having ogled the fluffy white adorableness. Curse yourself a million times over if said ogling occurred at a Sigfried and Roy's show.

Comments

[Miguel Angel]

I use to read your blog very often, but this is my first comment :)
I love cats (big cats too), I saw the pictures of the tigers some days ago, I live very close to the Buenos Aires' Zoo (about 10 blocks) but it's vacation time and is full of kids everywhere and it's impossible to visit, specially the zoo, so I'll have to wait to see the tigers.
I whish you be here.

Miguel