Rare Golden Tiger Spotted In Assam's Kaziranga National Park
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday shared the photo of a golden tiger. The golden tiger had taken social media by storm for the first time in 2020 when its photos went viral.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday shared the photo of a golden tiger that was spotted in Kaziranga National Park.
"Majestic Beauty! A rare golden tiger was recently spotted in Kaziranga National Park. #NationalTourismDay," the CM wrote in a social media post.
Majestic Beauty!
¡ª Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 25, 2024
A rare golden tiger was recently spotted in Kaziranga National Park.#NationalTourismDay pic.twitter.com/UeecZS28FK
Golden tiger of Kaziranga
The golden tiger had taken social media by storm for the first time in 2020 when its photos went viral.
Many had claimed that it was the only golden tiger in the world. However, Kaziranga National Park identified the Golden Tiger as KAZI 106-F and added that there were four such big cats in the protected area.
Golden tiger was spotted in KNP for the first time in 2008 and since camera-trapped several times.
What causes tigers to turn golden
While people were bowled over by the glow and beauty of the golden tiger, researchers had expressed alarm over their presence.
That 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.
Researchers have said that tigers are born with golden or any other colour due to genetic mutation, which is caused by inbreeding.
Why golden tigers are bad news for the species
According to scientists, due to the fragmentation of their habitat and an increase in population, inbreeding is on the rise.
Such offspring are at an increased risk of inheriting two of the same alleles from their parents.
They also tend to be less immune to illnesses and have reduced reproductive capabilities, leading to a less diverse Deadpool and could lead to the decline of the species.
Kaziranga National Park
Other than tigers, Kaziranga, which is spread across an area of 430 square km is also home to elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.
But the most famous inhabitant of Kaziranga is the rare one-horned rhino, which India has managed to save from the brink of going extinct.
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
Read More
