Saturday, June 21, 2014

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

Payson

Bengal tigers are what most people think of when they think of a tiger. I find these tigers to be very beautiful and unique. Unfortunately like I have mentioned in other “Cat of the Week/Day” posts, the Black Market craves a high demand for their pelage. Bengal tigers are classified as endangered. These tigers can be in Bengladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. These are all parts of India. These kinds of tigers are very similar to Amur tigers with their orange coloration and black stripes. However, there is an exception to the white Bengal tiger. To most people, the white appearance instead of orange is thought to be albinism. However, the white color trait is a recessive mutation. Even though there are cases of albino tigers, it is not always the case. Fortunately, I find it very interesting that the zoo has a white tiger. Her name is Payson.


Payson is quite the tiger. I enjoy seeing her every day. When I start my mornings, Payson is always one of the few tigers who is as eager to greet me as I do for her. She is very welcoming and loves it when I give her a quick rinse her off with a hose due to how warm it is.  She pounces, bites, and slides across her back holding. It is really fun to watch such a big animal play not realizing how big she is. She has a strong curiosity for what I am doing whenever I pass her by. I will for sure miss her when I go back to school this summer!

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