TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: After a hiatus of approximately three years, a rare golden tiger has been sighted in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), marking a significant event in wildlife observation.
EXPLANATION:
- The golden tiger is a rare phenotype characterized by a recessive genetic trait.
- The adult male golden tiger was photographed by a tourist and shared on National Tourism Day.
- The photo captured the majestic creature strolling through Kaziranga National Park.
- Tourists’ tour guide also witnessed this extraordinary sighting.
- Assam Chief Minister’s office acknowledged the rare sighting, emphasizing the richness of Assam’s wildlife. The sighting contributes to the ongoing efforts to study and conserve the diverse fauna found in the region.
Phenotype Characteristics
- The golden phenotype is an uncommon recessive trait that adds to the diversity of tiger populations.
- The sighting reinforces the existence of this genetic variation in the wild.
- The golden tiger’s last sighting in Kaziranga dates back to 2020, emphasizing the rarity of such occurrences.
Golden tiger:
- A golden tiger (also known as a golden tabby tiger) is a Bengal tiger exhibiting a color variation resulting from a recessive gene.
- The golden tiger’s coloring originates from a recessive trait known as ‘wideband,’ which influences the production of black pigments during the hair growth cycle.
- Golden tigers are not a separate subspecies but rather a result of genetic variation within Bengal tigers.
- They are exceptionally rare in the wild and even rarer in captivity.
Genetic Research
- Scientists at the National Centre for Biological Sciences are conducting non-invasive scat sampling and DNA mapping to investigate the genetic basis of the golden phenotype.
- Both pseudo-melanistic (dark-coated) and golden phenotypes are expressed as recessive traits, indicating the presence of a significant number of heterozygotes in the population.
- The heterozygotes, having one copy of the genetic variant, resemble normal tigers and can be identified through genetic analyses.
Implications of Recessive Traits
- The occurrence of recessive traits suggests factors such as population isolation, a small population, or inbreeding.
- Understanding recessive traits is crucial for assessing the genetic health and diversity of tiger populations.
Kaziranga National Park:
- It is located in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.
- It was declared a national park in 1974.
- It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses two-thirds of the total world population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- It is the largest undisturbed area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplains.
- It is a mix of eastern wet alluvial grasslands, semi evergreen forests and tropical moist deciduous forests.
Conclusion
- The rare sighting of the golden tiger in Kaziranga National Park is a testament to the region’s unique biodiversity.
- As scientists delve into genetic analyses, the findings will contribute to the broader understanding of tiger populations and their evolutionary history.
- This remarkable observation underscores the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard these majestic creatures and their genetic diversity.