Visit of rare white tiger to Perth Zoo

December 7, 1995

Two hundred kilograms of white tiger took centre stage in the great cats exhibit at Perth Zoo today.

Chester, the white tiger, is 'on holiday' in Perth from Sydney's Taronga Zoo until February 15 next year.

Environment Minister Peter Foss today marked the 12-year-old tiger's visit when he operated the slide leading from Chester's night quarters to his newly refurbished exhibit.

"Chester has been a crowd favourite with visitors at Taronga Zoo for several years and has previously visited the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, New South Wales," the Minister said.

"He came from Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha and has been at Taronga Zoo since 1993."

White tigers are not albino and do occur in the wild.

They have dark chocolate to black stripes on a coat of creamy white.  Ice blue eyes add to their spectacular appearance.

The Perth Zoo's director of conservation, Colin Hyde, said although white tigers had no conservation value, popular animals like Chester played an important role in focussing attention on the plight of tigers worldwide.

"Tiger numbers throughout the world are at a critical point and exhibits like Chester ensure that many more people will be inspired by the magnificence of these animals to support their conservation," Mr Hyde said.

"Of the eight original sub-species of tigers, three are already extinct and the rest are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching."

Mr Foss said the Perth Zoo would play an important role in a regional breeding program for the Sumatran tiger.

He said there were less than 500 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.

The zoo has a pure bred male Sumatran tiger - five-year-old Calang - and negotiations are underway to secure a genetically suitable female to mate with him.

Calang's sister, Selatan, has already made a major contribution to Sumatran tiger numbers.  She had a female cub in 1994 and last October gave birth to triplets at Taronga Zoo.

Calang will be on display in the enclosure adjacent to Chester.

Mr Hyde said zoo visitors would be able to see the significant differences between the animals.

"Apart from the colour variation - Calang has a classic orange and black coat - the real difference is in the size of both animals," he said.

"Calang only weighs 80 kgs and is almost one-third the weight of Chester."

Mr Foss said Perth Zoo had committed funds to support the purchase of DNA testing equipment that would assist in verifying the genetic integrity of Sumatran tigers

This would ensure that animals taking part in zoo breeding programs had suitable blood lines.

Media contact: Peter Harris 321 2222 or 222 9595

Ian Williams, Perth Zoo, 474  0383.