AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION Species Survival Plan Taxon Advisory Group Fauna Interest Group Scientific Advisory Group
TO: Anne Zimmerman, Director San Gabriel Zoo San Gabriel, New Mexico FROM: Barry Grady, Coordinator Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan Association of Zoos and Aquariums RE: Breeding plans for Sumatran tiger

Thanks for the suggestion. Tara is a very valuable female and might seem like a good choice--their cubs would increase the genetic diversity of captive Sumatran tigers. However, the inbreeding coefficient for this pair is very high--0.250. Tara is actually Jambi's sister, born in an earlier litter to the same parents at Bukittinggi Zoo, Indonesia. If we did mate these two, the cubs might not survive. Any that lived might suffer from reduced fertility, reduced ability to adapt to environmental change and perhaps even genetic defects such as hip dysplasia. In the long run, it's best to avoid mating these two.

White tigers are the most notorious example of tiger inbreeding. All white tigers in the U.S. are descended from one male, Mohan, captured in 1851. Since the white coloration is caused by a double recessive gene, the only way to produce more white tigers is by inbreeding. Mohan was bred back to his daughter, and the inbreeding has continued to this day. This practice violates fundamental genetic principles upon which all Species Survival Plans for endangered species in captivity are based. White tigers are a color aberration, bred and proliferated by a few zoos, private breeders, and entertainment people, who do this for economic rather than conservation reasons.

We will inform you of our breeding recommendation soon.