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A Tiger, Not A Lily...
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Radu Xplorator (Xplorator)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 657 W: 57 N: 1500]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (7671) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Black & White |
| Date Taken: 2006-08 |
| Categories: Mammals |
| Camera: Nikon CP 8800 |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-09-25 3:28 |
| Viewed: 2097 |
| Favorites: 3 [view] |
| Points: 24 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
...A little too idylic and good to be true, isnt it? Not wild, but 100% real and 0% Photoshop!
The White Bengals of His Highness, the Maharajah :
A common myth surrounding white tigers is that these felines originate from the far north Russian cold, densely forested lands of Siberia and their fur color acts as natural camouflage between snow and bushes. It makes perfect sense but in reality, couldn’t be more far from the truth. All white tigers in the world today are not Siberians (Pathera tigris altaica), but descendants of an Indian wild tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) cub captured by Indian royalty in 50’s.
So, fact is, in May 1951, H.H. Shri Martand Singh (1923-1995), the maharajah of Rewa in Rajasthan, was hunting in the jungles of Bandhavgarh, central India. On the 25th a report came in that a tigress had been sighted with four cubs, one of which was white. The maharajah cruelly shot the mother dead but collected its offspring, of which only one was white, and he raised them and starting breeding them. That first white cub was the grandfather of all white tigers today and remains the most famous. His name was Mohan.
Despite his passion for hunting, Maharajah Shri Martand Singh was one of India’s foremost champions of wildlife preservationists, much in the fashion of Theodore Roosevelt, also well-seasoned traveler and sportsman. Until today, Bandhavgarh region where Mohan was captured, now a National Park founded by the very same Maharajah Martand Singh, has one of the largest tiger populations and advertises itself as: "You have to be really unlucky not to see a tiger here!". Even today at the court of Rewa, white tigers are bred carefully as an established tradition.
Mohan, the original white tiger died twenty years later and left the world the genetic legacy of all white tigers in captivity, from zoos to Siegfried & Roy in Las Vegas. Farms specialized in felines would sell white tigers for ten times the price of a red one, reaching fabulous amounts of money.
Many beliefs, false or true, surround these legendary beasts. Perhaps the most common myth is that white tigers are albinos, but without pigment they would also not have stripes, colored noses and paw pads, and lip mottling. Their skin would lack color pigment and fur would be all milky and not striped. Its slightly different but still reverse similar in effect from melanism for example, present in black panthers.
The white tiger is not a separate subspecies; it would perhaps be more accurate to call it an aberrant coloration. Because they are not a separate tiger type they are also not an 'endangered species.
A little-known fact is that white tigers do not always have ice blue eyes; they may be green or amber. Again, this requires pigment in the eyes that an albino would not have.
In the kingdom of Assam the belief existed that anyone sighting a white tiger would soon die. It's a myth that remains today. |
elefantino, Janice, scottevers7, lovenature, marhowie, hester, CTP, c_rapp, SunToucher, navnith has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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| Discussions |
| Thread | Thread Starter |
Messages |
Updated |
| To c_rapp: :) | Xplorator |
1 |
09-26 00:13 |
| You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
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- radz
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 616]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(3404) - [2006-09-25 4:39]
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What a capture Radu!!Very nice shot with excellent composition,&POV.
Great compo, amazing atmosphere and soft colors.
Excellent details and info notes.
100% real but not wild, I think !
Andrea
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- Janice
(18648)
- [2006-09-25 6:10]
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Hi Radu, it does look like a calendar shot! Beautiful composition, and the tiger looks awesome! I have seen TV programs on these whiten tigers, and found them very interesting. Thank you for showing him to us,
Janice
Hi Radu,
Excellent overall composition on this shot. I like he dark feeling here. Sharply detail with excellent depth. Great informative notes too.
Very well done!
Scott
Wow
A awesome sight to see a White Tiger wading in the water. A nice sharp image, this white tiger really stands out in the dark coloured water. I can just imagine what they would really be like in the wild.
TFS Janice
Hi Radu,
a majestic cat - I like to see him inside the water, it's a beautiful arrangement.
Thanks and bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda
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- wuta
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2142) - [2006-09-25 14:48]
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A Beauty picture Radu , good compositie colours light and sharpnes , tfs Greetings Teunie .
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- hester
(11638)
- [2006-09-25 15:15]
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Stunning composition. Janice is right - it does look like a calendar shot. Lovely details and colours.
TFS
Karan
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- CTP
(3191)
- [2006-09-25 15:34]
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Hi Radu,
Ecellent photo my friend.Great timing.
I like your pov,dof,focus,sharpness,colors,note and lighting.TFS
Chris
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- c_rapp
(738)
- [2006-09-25 22:19]
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You're making me chase this tiger all over Trek! I thought I just dreamt it up when I tried to show it to Otto in TL. This is a gorgeous picture, perfect in every way. Thanks for sharing.
Christan
Hi Radu,
What a photo. Such great colors and sharpness and such a beautiful composition. You were really lucky to catch him in this situation. Having lived in Singapore for a few months, I can understand the reason of cooling down.
TFS,
Niek
:) later
Hi Radu,
An excellent shot with beautiful surroundings of this very very rare feline.
Congrats
TFS
navnith
Bonjour,
Belle présentation. Bravo.
Bonne journée.
clnaef