NEW DELHI: Days after the Delhi
zoo welcomed two tiger cubs from a “mixed pair” — the first in 27 years — one of them has died due to a liver problem. The cubs were the result of mating between a unique couple — three-year-old white tigress Nirbhaya and five-year-old Royal Bengal tiger Karan.
A zoo official said that while one
cub had been born stillborn, two were delivered successfully on Independence Day and were doing well. However, one of them fell ill and despite being taken for treatment, died on August 18. The zoo had installed CCTV cameras to monitor the cubs and the mother and officials said they discovered something was wrong with one of the cubs.
“It was not looking as agile (as it should) and we tried our best, but the cub did not survive. It had developed a problem during
birth. The second cub appears to be fine. Our focus is now on this cub and we are giving it all the care it needs to grow into an adult tiger,” a zoo official said.
The Delhi zoo last saw offspring from such a “mixed” pair way back in 1991 when two cubs were born — one white and the other yellow. This time around, both cubs were yellow (Royal Bengal Tigers), which experts said was the dominant gene.
The zoo, at present, has 12 tigers — seven white and five Royal Bengal tigers. Authorities say animal exchanges will be facilitated over the coming months to reduce inbreeding by bringing in both tiger species, thus changing the bloodline.
The birth of the two cubs had brought cheer on I-Day.
