Baby white tiger without stripes on a diet of yogurt

MADRID (AFP) - A white tiger with blue eyes and no stripes, one of only 20 worldwide, was born in captivity at a wild animal refuge in southern Spain, the refuge director, Serafin Domenech, told AFP.

Baptized "Artic," the young tiger's snow-like fleece and lack of stripes result from a genetic anomaly. Likewise a fragile stomach, which accounts for a steady diet of bifidus acidophilus yogurt -- half a kilo (one pound) per day -- "to reinforce Artic's intestinal flora," explained Domenech by telephone Wednesday.

The Noah's Arc Refuge, near Alicante, waited three critical months before announcing Artic's birth due to his less than robust health. At a mere nine kilograms (20 pounds), "he is small for his age," Domenech said. "His sister Siberia, born from the same litter, and with whom he is living for the moment, is already much heavier."

If Artic follows a strict diet there is no reason he should not live as long as a normal Bengal tiger, about 20 years.

In the wild, however, Artic would probably not last very long. Even if he managed to adapt his diet, his white coloration would make him an easy mark for predators, including man.

Even in captivity, his social life will be complicated by his condition. "I don't plan to put him together with normal tigers," said Domenech, "because they might kill him due to the fact he is different."

Still, Artic will not be condemned to solitude. "We have to put him together with another animal a bit like him, but weaker, so that Artic will not be harmed when they play together," said the director.

Indeed, a candidate is already in view. Another tiger, Bienvenida, was recently operated due to a spina bifida and moves only with difficulty. She may be the ideal playmate.