The Golden Tiger that took social media by storm in 2020 is once again the talk of the town after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a picture of the majestic cat on Thursday, spotted in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.
“Majestic Beauty! A rare Golden Tiger was recently spotted in Kaziranga National Park. #NationalTourismDay,” the CM wrote in a post on X.
Why are the Tigers Golden?
According to sources, researchers say, this is because these rare animals are born with a genetic mutation. Tigers get their trademark stripes due to ‘agouti genes’ and ‘tabby genes’. The absence of any of these genes may lead to color variation in tigers.
While speaking to TrueToLife on January 27, the Former Director, of Kaziranga National Park, sharing some insights says, “Due to hormonal changes, they change color and can return back to their usual skin color too. They are a color variation of Bengal Tigers.”
The Lucky Tourists
Rare Golden Tigers, also known as golden tabby tigers or strawberry tigers, are incredibly rare in the wild but a couple who went as tourists this January 2024, shared to TrueToLife on January 28, “We were so lucky to spot the Golden Tiger at Kaziranga during our morning Safari.”
“We have been to Kaziranga several times but never spotted this rare breed of tigers. This time we were fortunate to witness its majestic beauty,” the couple from Assam said.
“Indeed it felt surreal, watching it so closely, it’s nothing short of a miracle,” expressed the couple, wildlife lovers from Assam.
Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park a UNESCO World Heritage site is home to the famous one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.
The Park officially opened for tourists for the 2023-24 season, as stated by a press release.
Where can we find them?
“They are said to be in hiding. In isolated areas, deep within the forest jungles, making them hard to spot,” informed the ex-Director.
A photograph of the tiger was recently shared by IFS officer Parveen Kaswan on the internet.
Can we breed rare Golden Tigers?
Breeding Rare Golden Tigers involves specific genetic traits that result in their unique coloration. Breeding them would involve pairing tigers that carry this recessive gene.
We used trackers, and cameras, to mark them, and monitor them. Stressing on anti-poaching, too much publicity is also not good for these big cats he said. While it is essential to consider the ethics and conservation implications of breeding rare animals like golden tigers.
Keeping in mind the potential health concerns. The official summed that conservation efforts often focus on protecting and preserving existing populations rather than actively breeding rare animals.
By Ananya Barman from Assam reporting for True To Life