A rare wild white tiger spotted again in the Nilgiri mountains of India after a gap of 8 years. A wildlife photographer from Bengaluru spotted it earlier in 2017. Nilgiri, which means “blue mountain,” is a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO world heritage site with very good forest cover. The previous sighting of a white tiger was the first recorded in the Nilgiris, and now, after an 8-year gap, a similar white tiger has been spotted in the Avalanche forest range of the Nilgiris.
When the suspected white tiger was photographed in the Nilgiris and the picture was shared with the forest department, the camera traps were installed to get more proof, but no picture was clicked by the trap cameras.
According to the zoologists and wildlife biologists, it was not an albino but a tiger with a paler color; you could call it almost white. This condition, according to science, is a rare genetic mutation that changes the amino acid responsible for normal color. These tigers lack pheomelanin, a pigment responsible for the yellow-orange color of the skin.
In 2021, another report emerged of white tigers spotted in the same forest range, but once again, there was no evidence to confirm the sightings. Now the villagers have recorded a video in which a tiger with whitish skin has been seen standing amid thorny bushes before crossing the hill. The villagers recorded the video last week, prompting the forest department to intensify surveillance in search of the rare cat.
India’s first captured wild white tiger was captured from the forests of Rewa in the early 50s by the king of the Rewa state, which was later to produce several white tigers. Now all white tigers in captivity in the world are the progeny of Mohan, the first captured white tiger.
Mr. Vibhav Srivastava is a seasoned wildlife biologist and ecotourism professional with over 20 years of experience across wildlife research, forest management, conservation education, and sustainable tourism in India.
Currently at Nature Safari India, he curates immersive wildlife experiences, leads conservation communication, and designs educational outreach programs. His expertise spans both in-situ and ex-situ conservation, with extensive field work in all major wildlife landscapes of Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern India. Notable contributions include all-India tiger monitoring with the Wildlife Institute of India, community-based conservation initiatives, and training forest staff and nature guides.
He has held key roles with RARE India, National Zoological Park (New Delhi), Le Passage to India, Tiger Protection Group, and served as Chief Naturalist at Kanha National Park, deepening his expertise in biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife interactions.
An accomplished educator and communicator, Mr. Srivastava has delivered over 30 lectures at prestigious institutions including Delhi University, BHU, Amity University, and IITTM. He is a published author and researcher, with co-authored books, scientific publications, and paper presentations at national seminars. His work consistently bridges conservation science, community engagement, and responsible tourism.
He holds a Master’s degree in Botany, has received professional training from the Wildlife Institute of India, and was nominated among the top five naturalists in India for the TOFT Best Naturalist Award.
