GOLDEN TIGER Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Assam Chief Minister recently posted a picture of the rare golden tiger spotted in Kaziranga National Park on the occasion of National Tourism Day.

Golden Tiger

• About: It is essentially a Bengal tiger displaying a distinctive coloration due to a recessive gene. This unique variant, like white and black tigers, is a color form rather than a distinct subspecies.
• Distinctive Coloration: The hallmark of a golden tiger is its remarkable blonde or pale-golden fur accompanied by red-brown stripes, in contrast to the typical black stripes found in other tiger variants.
• Recessive Trait: The golden tiger's unique coloring is a result of the "wideband" recessive trait, affecting the expression of black pigment. This trait plays a pivotal role in determining the tiger's overall appearance and distinguishes it from its orange-with-black-stripe counterparts.
• Not a Separate Subspecies: It is crucial to note that, akin to white and black tigers, the golden tiger is not a separate subspecies but rather a captivating manifestation of genetic diversity within the Bengal tiger population.

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve

• Location: Located at Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.
• Flora: Tall elephant grass, marshland, and dense tropical moist broadleaf forests. 
• Fauna: One-horned rhinos; Elephant; Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo. 
• River: Located on the edge of Brahmaputra River and Diphlu River flows through the National Park.

Conservation status:

• National Park in 1974.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
• Tiger Reserve in 2007.
• Recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.