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White tigers are not true “albino” (it is not albinism) and are characterized by brown or black stripes and blue eyes with pink nose. In fact, these specimens, are suffering from Leucism. Color variation is considered a mutation caused by a recessive gene that inhibits the yellow pigmentation of the coat of the tiger by altering the color of the stripes and is accompanied, as documented by the Bengal subspecies (Panthera tigris tigris), with some disorders such as squint and a weakened immune system.
Definitions:
Leucism (from the greek, leukòs, white) is a genetic peculiarity due to a gene, recessive in most cases, which gives a white color to the fur or feathers of animals which normally have a mantle of different color.
Albinism (from Latin albus, white) is a congenital anomaly consisting in the total or partial deficiency of melanin pigmentation in the skin, in the iris and choroid, in the fur or plumage, due to an absence or defect of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin.
