Baby white tigers are extremely rare in the wild. Their white fur is caused by a genetic mutation that affects pigmentation, and both parents must carry this rare recessive gene for a white cub to be born. White tigers are not a separate species—they are a color variation of the Bengal tiger. Due to their rarity and striking appearance, most white tigers today are found in captivity, where selective breeding has increased their numbers, though often at the cost of genetic health. In the wild, th