A blue-eyed white Bengal tiger without stripes, one of only twenty in the world, has been born in "El Arca" (The Ark); the only wild animal recovery centre in Spain. Centre director, Sefafín Doménech, explained that the species is now extinct in the wild as their striking colouring makes it difficult for them to hunt effectively, and easy-to-spot prey for their predators.
The tiger cub, christened "Artico," was born three months ago weighing just 700g, but has developed well and now weighs 9kg. Artico, who, like others of the same species, suffers from certain genetic metabolic problems, requires a special diet of raw meat (mostly beef), a vitamin complex, liquid glucose, and yoghurt.
Artico´s parents are; "Excalibur," a male Bengal tiger who was donated by its former owners, who moved to Barcelona and could no longer look after him, and "Cristina," who was donated by a shopkeeper in Madrid after she attacked one of his customers.
