Castor found that unusual, but otherwise, Charlie appeared to be normal. Though Prince Charles suffered from arthritis, his last medical check-up did not indicate any new problems or concerns. Born at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1981, Prince Charles and his normal-colored sister, Whiskers, arrived at the Zoo in 1982, to much fanfare. The white tiger is a rare color variation of the Bengal tiger, and is not an albino. Its features include charcoal stripes on a background of white fur, icy-blue eyes, and pink nose and pawpads.
Bengal tigers are an endangered species whose range extends throughout India.
They normally live to up 15 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. Charlie's mother at the Cincinnati Zoo was also a white tiger, who died of natural causes at the age of 14. Millions of visitors have had the opportunity to see Prince Charles over the years at the Lion House, and up close during the Big Cat Feeding. Castor, who has cared for Prince Charles since he was five months old, is devastated by his death. Not only a crowd favorite, but a good friend of mine.