THE MARVELOUS WHITE TIGERS OF INDIA:
A Walk Through Legend, Science, and Conservation
India, which has the highest number of wild tigers in the world (almost 75%), with over 3,682 Bengal Tigers thriving as of 2022 is harbouring one more remarkable secret in their wildlife legacy! White tiger in India is also counted among them. The story of India’s white tigers is an entrancing one that infuses together royal history, genetic wonders and contemporary conservation quandaries — a story that still beguiles wildlife lovers and the safari-going community from across the world.
Table of Contents
The Royal Legacy of Bandhavgarh’s White Ghosts
Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh National Park was habitation to these cryptic, so-called living ghosts of the jungle. These magnificent felines roamed wild in a mythical land where Ram gave Bandhavgarh fort to Laxman after defeating Lanka.
The royal entanglement of white tigers goes back long into Indian history, through the Baghel dynasty of Rewa. The custom of slaying 109 tigers to show off has its origins in maharajas, as it meant they must have killed at least one hundred and nine tigers in their life. Maharaja Gulab Singh personally killed 616 tigers (including 83 in a single year) and later the Maharaja Martand Singh shot 131 tigers. It was Maharaja Martand Singh who would change the course of white tiger history forever.
Mohan: The Tiger That Changed Everything
During one of his hunting expedition Maharaja Martand Singh came across a tigress with four cubs, of which three were regular orange cubs but what caught his eye was one spectacularly white cub with black stripes. Unfortunately, the tigress and her regular cubs were killed as per the hunting tradition of that time. Maharaja made an unexpected move by capturing the white cub alive acknowledging its rarity.
This cub, named Mohan (which means “charming” or “enchanting,” as in Lord Krishna) became the father of all white tigers now in captivity. Mohan lived in the royal Bagh Mahal of Govindgarh fort for 19 years, until his death in 1968. Despite his luxurious accommodations and dedicated care, Mohan initially resented captivity, going so far as to even escape for a brief period before forming a bond with the maharaja who visited him daily on a 20-kilometer journey from Rewa.
The Science Behind the Beauty
White tigers are not a separate species instead they are Bengal tigers with a rare genetic mutation which only affects the fur and skin colour, not the eye colour which results in striking blue eyes that distinguishes white tigers from regular tigers. This rare genetic defect is known as leucism that occurs in about 1 in 10,000 tigers. Unlike albinism which affects the eye colour too leucism only results in skin and fur discolouration.
The cause of the white colour is a recessive gene. If both parents carry the gene, then there is a chance offspring will have the white coat. When a white tiger is bred with an ordinary (orange) one, there’s a 25% chance the offspring will be white in their first litter and about a 50% chance in second and subsequent litters. This genetic oddity not only makes white tigers unique; it also has devastating consequences on their health and ability to thrive.
Modern genetics show that the leucistic trait of white tigers come from pheomelanin pigment not being produced, making white tigers less physiologically robust than their orange counterparts. Their distinctive white coat would be a real handicap in the wild, making them more conspicuous to prey and to any potential predators.
From Royal Courts to Global Zoos
Mohan’s breeding programme started with a normal tigress named Begum, who bore only orange cubs in three litters. In order to procreate a litter of white cubs, the maharaja chose to mate Mohan with his daughter Radha, beginning their incestuous relationship that created four white cubs, Raja, Rani, Mohini and Sukeshi.
Their descendants were given and sold to zoos around the world including some in America (one was a gift to President Eisenhower), Bristol Zoo, and many across Asia and Australia. Today all the white tigers present in captivity globally are descended from Mohan, making him the father of all captive white tigers.
In 1958 last of wild white tiger was shot down making the species extinct in wild now. Though there have been some unconfirmed sightings in recent years which includes reports from Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in 2017 and Kaziranga National Park in 2020 no wild tigers have been confirmed scientifically.
Current White Tiger Population and Distribution
As of 2025 the current white tiger number stands at 200 globally, all in captivity of which 100 are housed by India itself across various zoological parks and safari facilities. These white tigers are scattered throughout various key locations that offer visitors to witness these rare cats.
Significant White Tiger Destinations in India:
- Maharaja Martand Singh Judeo White Tiger Safari and Zoo – Mukundpur, Rewa (Madhya Pradesh)
- Nandankanan Zoological Park – Bhubaneswar (Odisha)
- Delhi Zoo
- Mysore Zoo, Karnataka
- Alipore Zoological Gardens, West Bengal
Conservation Efforts and Breeding Programs for White Tigers
In a breakthrough for protecting white tigers, India’s first exclusive white tiger breeding centre was cleared by the Central Zoo Authority in 2025 in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. Set up in Govindgarh, the same place where Mohan was found, the centre is a “significant investment” in saving the genetic lineage of these extraordinary creatures.
The breeding centre is part of a new master plan for the Mukundpur White Tiger Safari and Zoo, which focuses on biodiversity conservation, conservation awareness with focus on wildlife tourism as well as livelihood generation for local people. Rajendra Shukla, deputy chief minister, said the state’s conservation policy has been always clear and noted that Rewa holds historical position in the field of captive white tiger breeding since it was bred first here.
Planning Your White Tiger Safari Adventure
For those wildlife freaks dying to see these majestic animals, India provides the best outlook for sighting a white tiger in managed conditions. The Mukundpur safari in Rewa offers the best historical feel, where people can recreate Mohan’s discovery story.
These days, white tiger sanctuaries still educate the public about these amazing animals and their conservation efforts as well as genetics, wildlife protection, including influence of history of mighty predators. Guided tours are available at many sites which includes hard facts about leucism, breeding programs and conservation initiatives.
A Living Legacy
The story of India’s white tigers is a fascinating intersection of history, science and conservation. Today, from the royal hunting fields of Bandhavgarh to modern-day breeding facilities in Rewa, these charming animals are still enthralling people everywhere and raising important issues for wildlife conservation and genetic diversity. India’s total tiger population is rebounding impressively, the country now has more than 3,600 tigers after lurching on the edge of extinction since last few decades, but white tiger continues to be a symbol & an outcome of conservation success, and it also points out the long way we have yet to go with this wildlife conservation movement. The roar of conservation success echoes through India’s forests, and the ethereal presence of white tigers ensures that this ancient land continues to surprise and enchant wildlife lovers from around the globe.