After 10 years of being raised at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, a rare Bengal white tiger named Ngo Khong has passed away due to severe illness.

Ngo Khong, the rare Bengal white tiger, died after battling serious illness for two weeks.

According to a representative from Saigon Zoo, the tiger had shown signs of appetite loss and declining health over the past two weeks. Veterinarians worked with specialists and the Ho Chi Minh City Veterinary Sub-Department to conduct a thorough medical consultation. Ngo Khong was diagnosed with several conditions, including pancreatitis and hepatitis.

Despite receiving intensive care and showing signs of recovery - appearing alert and walking around its enclosure in the days prior - the tiger’s health suddenly deteriorated on July 7 and it could not be saved.

Ngo Khong was born at the Saigon Zoo on July 8, 2015, and had just turned 10. It was a Bengal white tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), a phenotype caused by a recessive genetic mutation inherited from both parents.

Ngo Khong had a younger sibling named Bo Sua and an older brother. However, the elder brother died before reaching six months of age due to a congenital digestive disorder.

Bo Sua, the younger sibling, was hand-raised with formula milk after the mother tiger could not produce enough milk for both cubs.

Currently, Bo Sua is the only white tiger remaining at Saigon Zoo.

White tigers (also known as Bengal tigers) are a rare species native to India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. They are known to suffer from various health issues including poor vision, weakened immunity, skeletal deformities, kidney and neurological problems, and photosensitivity - factors that make their survival in the wild extremely difficult and contribute to their high risk of extinction.

It is estimated that only about 3,200 white tigers remain worldwide, the majority of which are kept in zoos.

Tuan Kiet