The cubs were being hand-reared before their deaths after being abandoned by their mother
The entry gate of Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha. Photo: iStock The death of three tiger cubs at Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoological Park within a month has baffled forest officials and wildlife experts.
Rupa, a white tigress, gave birth to a female cub and two white male cubs March 11, 2022. But Rupa had not been feeding her cubs since their birth.
The first cub died March 21 due to fractured-related stress. Another cub died due to pneumonia April 12. A third cub died to anaemia April 14.
The cubs were being hand-reared before their deaths after being abandoned by their mother.
“There was no way one could make the tigress feed her cubs. At present, the tiger population at the zoo stands at 26, including five cubs. We are monitoring the movements of tigers around the clock, particularly cubs through CCTV cameras. Forest personnel are also keeping watch on the cubs in the zoo,” Sanjeet Kumar, the deputy director of Nandankanan Zoological Park, said.
“The tiger cubs were sluggish and died after their mother abandoned them. As death was not due to any infectious disease, there is no threat to the captive animals in the zoo,” Sushanta Panda, professor of the pathology wing of the Orissa University of Agriculture Technology, said.
A six-year-old female Bengal tiger named Anini had died at the Nandankanan Zoological Park January 6, 2021, while undergoing treatment for anaemia, Panda added.
LAK Singh, a noted tiger researcher and the former wildlife officer of Similipal Tiger Reserve said: “It is the duty of the zoo officials to take proper care of the cubs abandoned by tigresses. Fresh cow’s milk and milk powders should be generally avoided. Milk powders lead to dermal problems and diarrhoea.
“Goat milk or female dog milk, if available, have been found to be suitable for cubs. Forest officials should avoid sugary solutions as cats cannot digest high loads of glucose. Nandankanan Zoo has no cat specialist to take proper care of tigers, particularly abandoned cubs. Lack of proper care is the main reason behind the death of three cubs in a month.”
Nandankanan drew world attention in July 2000 after 13 Bengal tigers died, eight of them within a few hours of each other. In 2017, five tiger cubs died of hunger at Nandankanan after they were abandoned by their mother.
Nandankanan is known globally as one of the major zoos to host white tigers. It is the first zoo in India with a white tiger safari.
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