Why are White Tigers being killed?

The White tiger isn't a separate species. It's a rare, but naturally occurring version of (usually) the Bengal tiger.

There's never been a self-supporting population of White tigers only.

There are far more of them today in zoos and animal parks that there has ever been in the wild.

Most, if not all of them, can be traced to a wild caught male who was bred to one of his daughters some decades ago.

This Close inbreeding is why many of the White tigers in captivity have Health issues. They're (almost) all closely related.

In the wild, the poorer camouflage offered by the black and White fur, out of the very few cubs that are born, only an even smaller number makes into adulthood.

This means that they're so rare, that no one - even when tigers were more common - can make a living out of killing White tigers.

But if you're already out poaching, finding a White tiger would indeed bring you more Money, and Money is what it's all about for almost all poachers.

They are killed for their hides. Poachers can sell their coat on the black market, as with any tiger, but if it is from a "White Tiger" the demand is much greater. Also, most of the teeth, claws, organs, and bones will be sold for "Chinese Traditional Medicines" or used to make other artifacts. For more details, please see the sites listed below.