A litter of rare white Bengal tiger cubs unveiled at Austrian zoo

The cubs are named Lali, Lela, Lila, Lulu and Obama. Credit: Reuters

Five rare Bengal tiger cubs have made their public debut at White Zoo in Kernhof, Austria.

The litter of four females and one male were born on April 25. According to the zoo, their births marked the first time five white tiger cubs were born in a single litter in Europe.

The cubs are named Lali, Lela, Lila, Lulu and Obama.

White Zoo owner Herbert Eder holds white Bengal tiger cub Lila at White Zoo. Credit: Reuters

"We are very, very proud and very happy, because they are totally normal, there is nothing wrong [with them]," said Zoo Director Herbert Eder.

The cubs' mother, named Burani, was brought to the zoo from Germany three years ago and this is her third litter.

Four females and one male were born on April 25 at White Zoo. Credit: Reuters

Eder says: "They are not hand-tamed, and not together with people, they are together with their mother, and this is the reason we don't give these cubs to any shows, as we had 50 years ago. That time is over."

White tigers originate in India and Bangladesh and are a rare variant of the Bengal tiger.

Several hundred have been bred in zoos and wild animal parks around the world, but the unique color of their fur means they are often targeted by poachers and nearly extinct in the wild.