Newborn white tiger triplets struggle to stay awake as they make public debut at zoo in China

The blue-eyed Bengal tigers were born in Yunnan two-and-a-half months agoA competition is being held to name the three adorable newborn cubsTheir births marked an important step in the conservation of the rare animal

Three white tiger cubs have made their first public appearance at a zoo in south-west China, delighting visitors.

The blue-eyed Bengal tiger triplets were born two-and-a-half months ago at the Yunnan Wildlife Park in Kunming city, marking an important step in the conservation of the rare animal. A competition is being held during the country’s national holiday to name the three newborn cubs.

The newborn white tiger triplets struggle to stay awake as they made their first public appearance at the Yunnan Wildlife Park in south-west China’s Kunming city

The newborn white tiger triplets struggle to stay awake as they made their first public appearance at the Yunnan Wildlife Park in south-west China’s Kunming city

A competition is being held during the country’s national holiday to name the three cubs

The cubs are the newest addition to the six white tigers born last year at the Chinese zoo

The cubs are the newest addition to the six white tigers born last year at the Chinese zooVideo footage of the adorable cubs released by China News shows them sporting their iconic black stripes and white coats.

They were also filmed struggling to stay awake during their public debut as they tumble around in their enclosure.The cubs are the newest addition to the six white tigers born last year at the zoo, according to the Yunnan Wildlife Park in a news release.

Footage of the cubs shows them sporting their iconic black stripes and tawny white coats

Footage of the cubs shows them sporting their iconic black stripes and tawny white coats

The new mother had some difficulty nursing the cubs on their own due to lack of experience and require assistance from the breeders, according to the zoo in a statement

The new mother had some difficulty nursing the cubs on their own due to lack of experience and require assistance from the breeders, according to the zoo in a statement

Poaching, deforestation and over-hunting of their natural prey have hit the number of tigers

Poaching, deforestation and over-hunting of their natural prey have hit the number of tigers

The new mother had some difficulty nursing the cubs on their own due to lack of experience and require assistance from the breeders, according to the zoo.

After taking care of the cubs for two-and-a-half months, the three white tigers are in good health and can carry out simple interactions with visitors,’ the Yunnan Wildlife Park said in their statement.

White tigers are a genetic variation of the better-known orange Bengal tigers. A baby White Bengal tiger can only be born when both of its parents carry the rare gene, which turns up naturally about once per 10,000 births, according to Animal Corner.

There are only very few white tigers in the world – only about 250 in captivity

There are only very few white tigers in the world – only about 250 in captivity

Around 5,000 to 7,000 orange Bengal tigers live in the wild currently, according to Reuters

Around 5,000 to 7,000 orange Bengal tigers live in the wild currently, according to Reuters

There are only very few white tigers in the world – only about 250 in captivity. Around 5,000 to 7,000 orange Bengal tigers live in the wild, down from 100,000 at the start of the 20th-century, according to Reuters.

Poaching, deforestation and over-hunting of their natural prey have hit their numbers.