The white tiger is not a separate species but rather a Bengal tiger with a rare genetic mutation called leucism, which causes its distinctive pale coat. This color variant follows the same obligate carnivorous diet as its orange counterparts. Because of their shared biology, the dietary needs and feeding behaviors of white tigers are identical to those of the Bengal tiger. The last known white tiger was seen in the wild in the late 1950s, meaning nearly all white tigers today live in human care.
The Natural Prey Base
The primary diet of a wild tiger consists almost entirely of large ungulates, which are hoofed mammals. These apex predators target species like the Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, and wild boar, which provide the substantial calories necessary for their large body size. The Bengal tiger’s range also includes prey like gaur and water buffalo, which are among the largest bovine species they can successfully take down.
While the bulk of their diet comes from these major kills, tigers are opportunistic feeders and will supplement their meals with smaller animals. This secondary prey can include langurs, porcupines, hares, and peafowl. Tigers prefer to secure a large meal that can sustain them for several days, and in areas where human settlements encroach, they have also been known to prey on domestic livestock.
Hunting Methods and Feeding Habits
Tigers are solitary hunters that rely on stealth and ambush to secure their prey. They use their striped camouflage to stalk close to their target before launching a sudden attack, often aiming for the throat or neck to quickly incapacitate the animal. A successful hunt occurs only about once in every 10 to 20 attempts, which dictates a feast-or-famine feeding style.
Once a kill is made, the tiger will often drag the carcass into cover to protect it from scavengers. A tiger can consume 40 to 60 pounds of meat in a single sitting. This large meal allows the cat to fast for several days afterward, sometimes not needing to hunt again for four to seven days. Studies estimate that a wild adult male tiger consumes the equivalent of 6.3 to 7.8 kilograms of meat daily over the course of a year.
Dietary Management in Captivity
Since natural prey is unavailable in human care, the captive diet must be formulated to meet the cat’s specific nutritional requirements. Zoo and sanctuary diets typically consist of fresh, red meats such as horse, beef, or poultry, provided in large, controlled portions. Many facilities also use commercially prepared carnivore diets, which are nutritionally balanced ground meat mixtures designed for big cats.
A significant difference from the wild is the need for supplemental nutrients, particularly the amino acid taurine. Tigers, like all felids, cannot synthesize enough taurine, and a deficiency can lead to severe health issues like vision loss and heart failure. Captive diets must also be fortified with vitamins and minerals, including calcium, to ensure a proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which is naturally provided by consuming whole prey in the wild.
To promote dental health and provide behavioral enrichment, large chunks of meat or bones, such as beef shanks or thighbones, are often included in the feeding schedule. Feeding bones two days a week is a common practice to help keep teeth and gums in good condition. Captive tigers are fed to maintain a lean body condition, with quantities adjusted for their more sedentary lifestyle compared to their wild counterparts.