White tigers like Fereeda, born in South Africa, are extremely rare Caters News Agency Ltd

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CRIPES! A tiger with no stripes? It almost sounds like one of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories.

But this adorable cub is Africa’s first all-white tiger, and she is so rare there are thought to fewer than 20 of her kind in the world.

Fareeda was born in South Africa on Christmas Day last year to two white Bengal tigers and had one-in-100 chance of being born without her markings.

She was among a litter of three, but her brother Shahir and sister Sitarah both bear the typical black stripes.

Keepers at the Cango Wildlife Ranch, near Cape Town, had to wait for six months to confirm her rarity as tiger cubs can change in colouring.

The ranch’s Odette Claassen said: "Some cubs develop stripes in their first few months, but after six months it's clear that Fareeda is truly one of the rarest of her kind.

"When she was born, Fareeda had noticeably pale colour. It did cause a stir of excitement among the staff.

"But we knew there was the possibility of the cub's very light black and ginger stripes darkening over time existed."

She went on: "Most white Bengal tigers are bred in the US from a single male captured in the 1950s, but Fareeda is the first to be born in Africa, which is very special.

"She has a lovely nature and loves playing with her brothers and sisters, although she has nipped me a few times when she wants a feed.

"White Bengal tigers are not albino. They have distinctive blue eyes, and they used to be found in northern India before they died out.

"My hope is that one day Fareeda and her kind can be returned to their native habitat and that is why it is so important to educate people about tigers and keeping the breeding programmes going."

Fareeda was hand-reared as part of a unique breeding programme to keep the White Bengal species alive.

Check out these gorgeous pics of Fareeda as a tiny cub