Who says cats don't like a little moisture?

As these pictures show, there's always the exception to the rule. The cat in question is a large male white Bengal tiger called Odin.

Six years old, and at the prime of his life, Odin lives at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Zoo in Vallejo, near San Francisco. He is about 10ft long from nose to tail, and is an excellent swimmer.

White tigers - the color is caused by an unusual genetic combination - are rare in the wild, although there are several dozen in zoos.

Odin was hand-raised at the zoo. And after he was weaned, his British trainer Lee Munro discovered his remarkable skill: when a lump of meat was thrown into a pool of water, Odin would happily dive in after it.

In fact, although Big Cats generally do not like water, tigers of all types have been spotted taking to the water to hunt and even to bathe for pleasure.

Odin can now be observed in action - a large pool with glass walls has been constructed at the zoo to allow visitors to watch him gliding through the water with all the grace of a polar bear.

View the incredible photos here. Thanks to Bill for sending the link.

Comments

[Umi-Chan]

Wow... What an amazing animal! I just cant get enough of a tiger's beauty both as a cub and all grown up. WOW!!!

[sabrina warner]

Hey i was just liking to say that i love your cat it is awsome. I would like one of those for my pet, although they are much to dangerous for this house. I think you should post more of these kinds of pictures more often.
Thanks

Sabrina, 16