Success Story

Even animals have been brutalized because of the color of their skin.

Believe or not, many tigers have been persecuted and killed simply because of the color of their skin. Shere Khan almost faced such a horrific death - at the hands of man. Like many of his ancestors, he was bred to be a white tiger because zoos will pay as much as $30,000.00 to have one of these rare animals to help attract the paying public. Unfortunately though, bearing a white tiger is a genetic fluke. Therefore, hundreds of unwanted golden colored cubs are born and then discarded in order to produce that one valuable white cub. Many of the little golden cubs are destroyed or sold to exotic pet owners. They often end up being abused, abandoned, killed for their fur, or cruelly hunted and slain for fun at big game ranches.

After having the misfortune of being born the wrong color, things went from bad to worse for Shere Khan. Unwanted and uncared for at only four months old, he was living full time in a tiny pet carrier. Soon, his growing body was almost bulging out the sides. Denied a decent diet, Shere Khan's teeth and bones became so brittle, he could not walk more than a few steps without having to sit down. Over time, his teeth actually rotted through his skull causing huge weeping sores on his face and chin.

Luckily, Shere Khan was discovered and saved by Big Cat Rescue.