VIDEO: Adorable white tigers climb, bite, snarl at zoo debut

Thursday, April 16, 2015
Adorable, rare white tigers make zoo debut in Japan
Some zoo-goers in Japan got a sneak peak of four adorable and rare white Bengal tiger cubs born in January.

Shiraoka, JAPAN -- Some zoo-goers in Japan got a sneak peak of four adorable and rare white Bengal tiger cubs born in January.

The Saitama Tobu zoo in Shiraoka, north of Tokyo, held a trial public appearance for the tigers ahead of their grand debut next week. The idea is to get them used to the public.

The cubs, all boys, make up the second litter for 9-year-old Cara. The curious little tigers climbed on their mother, mimicked her scratching a tree trunk and bit anything to relieve their itching baby teeth. They stared at the visitors behind the glass, sometimes snarling at them.

Once the tigers make their official public appearance, guests of the zoo will be able to choose their names.

Including these new additions, Japan now has 35 white tigers. The cubs' coloring is a genetic anomaly in Bengal tigers, seen in about 250 captive cats worldwide and extremely rare in the wild.

PHOTOS: Rare white tigers make zoo debut in Japan

The Associated Press contributed to this report.