259. “Better to live one year as a tiger, than a hundred as a sheep." - Madonna

It may interest you to know your Citrine was born in the Year of the Tiger.  Perhaps that explains our deep affinity for felines in general and big cats in particular.  We seem to attract tiger related items, most recently a white tiger totem.  In honor of that recent gift, here are some wonderful facts about White Tigers from FortuneCity.com:

White Tigers (Panthera Tigris):
Bengal Tiger Population: 3,000 - 5,300 in the wild; 131 in captivity
Areas Located: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan (white tigers have not been seen in the wild since about 1950)
Weight: 400-569 pounds (180-285 kg)
Length: 9 feet (3 meters)
Type of Tiger: Rare Bengal Tiger (Not Albino)
Average Life Span: 15 - 20 years (15 wild; 16- 18 captivity)
Litter Size: 2 -4 cubs
Eye Color: Blue
Nose Color: Pink
Fur Color: Creamy White Fur with Black Stripes
Food of Choice: Wild Deer, Cattle, Pigs, and Occasionally Livestock; RARE instances have been found to eat
Humans
Habitat: Mainland Southeast Asia; Swampy, Grassy, and Forrest areas where they are well camouflaged
Threats: Mankind; Poachers (Illegal) and Colonization
Why are they white and not orange?
   White Tigers are the offspring of two Bengal tigers who care the rare gene that allows them to be white.
Can they swim?
   Yes. They are excellent swimmers.
Can they climb?
   Yes. They can climb but they are very poor climbers.
Are they fast?
   No. They are slow but that doesn't stop them from getting their prey.
Are they good hunters?
   Yes. They usually hunt at night and they are very stealthy.