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I stumbled across some vids of tigers and lions and leopards playing with/demolishing some pumpkins. It was awesomely cute and cool all at once. Then, I came across the link to the video above about white tigers... and my heart just hurts.

According to the info in the video, white tigers are severely inbred, and many that aren't "perfect" are tossed away or killed! They aren't a sub species of tiger, but a... well, a mistake. Zoos don't tell this to people because they want the white tigers because those are the cats that make them money. MONEY!!! I am a total animal lover (Steve Irwin, may he Rest in Peace, is/was my hero/idol), and hearing that even zoos, places created to educate and aid in preservation of species pushed to the brink of extinction or even beyond, in some cases, are participating in this cruel trade just to make some extra money! I don't know about you guys, but that sickens me... there are so many times when I am ashamed of my species, and this is one of those times.

I wanted to let the few people who watch my DA account know about this, because then maybe they will tell someone else, who will then tell another person, and it will spread to anyone willing to listen. I know it sounds really cliche, and I know I sound like a total bleeding heart for something I really cannot stop, but I want to try. No zoos in my state of Minnesota, that I know of, have white tigers, thank heaven, but lots of places have them. Remember that story earlier this year about the Golden Retriever who adopted those white tiger cubs down in Kansas? Apparently, THAT place participates in this INbreeding program... as I said earlier, it makes me sick inside.

I'm not forcing you to watch the video, or do anything if you do decide to watch it, I just want to help make people aware of this in what small way I can. I feel very passionately about ANYTHING having to do with animals and their well-being, part of that is/was greatly influenced by the Crocodile Hunter and his compassion, and I'm repeating myself... but I just want to do something, however small.

Still, I feel bad for thinking that white tigers are beautiful cats when I know that they are born through such a cruel process. I always thought that the color variation was like that of leopards, you know, some have spots on yellowish fur, and some are born all black (even they have spots, too, which is pretty cool). But, I digress, I've said my part now, so to everyone who read this and watched the vid, or even those who just read this, thanks. Imma go watch some cute NON SAD vids now, peace!