Five rare white tigers born at the Chilean National Zoo

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Five rare white tigers born just before the new year will live in a special habitat at the Chilean National Zoo in Santiago, an official said today.

The tigers, born Dec. 28, will live in a new enclosure with a large grass area and waterfalls, said zoo director Maurice Fabry, according to the Associated Press.

Fabry said there are only 200 such tigers in the world, which have white fur as a result of a rare gene mutation. The cubs were implanted with subcutaneous chips to identify them, officials said.

Officials also said the tigers’ father is Pampa, who arrived at the zoo from Argentina in 2007, and their mother is Luna, who arrived from Mexico in 2004. The zoo reportedly has not seen a litter of five white tigers in decades.

-- Efrain Hernandez Jr.