1.美國動物園與水族館協會(AZA)所推動設立的老虎種源保存工作小組(Tiger-SSP),多年來均不斷表示反對「白老虎的繁殖與展示」。
Dr. Ron Tilson, Conservation Director of the Minnesota Zoo, "The
white tiger controversy among zoos is a small part ethics and a
large part economics. The tiger Species Survival Plan has condemned
breeding white tigers because of their mixed ancestry, most have
been hybridized with other subspecies and are of unknown lineage,
and because they serve no conservation purpose. Owners of white
tigers say they are popular exhibit animals and increase zoo
attendance and revenues as well. The same rationalization can be
applied to the selective propagation of white lions, king cheetahs
and other phenotypically aberrant animals."
"However, there is an unspoken issue that shames the very integrity
of zoos, their alleged conservation programs and their message to
the visiting public. To produce white tigers or any other phenotypic
curiosity, directors of zoos and other facilities must continuously
inbreed father to daughter and father to granddaughter and so on. At
issue is a contradiction of fundamental genetic principles upon
which all Species Survival Plans for endangered species in captivity
are based. White tigers are an aberration artificially bred and
proliferated by some zoos, private breeders and a few circuses who
do so for economic rather than conservation reasons."
提爾森(Tilson)博士譴責動物園或馬戲團不斷繁殖白老虎的作法,因為牠們的血統混亂不明,而且無關老虎的保育(動物社會研究會略譯,資料來源:Big
Cat Rescue)。
Tilson博士是美國明尼蘇達動物園保育主任,同時也是美國動物園與水族館協會(AZA)所推動設立的老虎種源保存工作小組(Tiger-SSP)主任,知名老虎專家。物種保存計畫(SSP)目前共有76個物種工作小組,Tiger-SSP是最早成立的一個(1982年)。
2.國際保育團體加拿大「動物園監督」(Zoo Check)針對六福村動物園引進白老虎所發表的簡短聲明
“White tigers are popular exhibit animals, but they serve no real
conservation purpose. They are not a distinct species, but are
usually the product of hybridization and inbreeding. White tigers
are produced to attract visitors to zoos. The material and financial
resources dedicated to these animals would be better spent on
helping tigers in the wild and in legitimate captive propagation
programs.”by Rob Laidlaw, Director of Zoo Check, Canada. July 1,
2004
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