From an evolutionary standpoint, all that matters is that the tiger is able to reproduce. If it isn't, an attempt to introduce the breed somewhere will fail. No big deal.
...unless you hold the tiger in your mind in the same way you would your own house cat. But that's warped, because a house cat can't and won't eat you.
I still think the claims of all these problems with captive tigers are overblown. Animals in the wild have plenty of health problems. The difference is that there aren't nearly as many people scrutinizing and treating them.
Except there are plenty of healthy wild animals and zero healthy white tigers. So, in the wild ALL white tigers are unable to survive long enough to reproduce.
Suitable habitat is a limited resource. It might be a big deal wasting it on white tigers (or it might be a big deal wasting the political energy required to do the reintroduction on doomed animals).
...unless you hold the tiger in your mind in the same way you would your own house cat. But that's warped, because a house cat can't and won't eat you.
I still think the claims of all these problems with captive tigers are overblown. Animals in the wild have plenty of health problems. The difference is that there aren't nearly as many people scrutinizing and treating them.