Indore: A pall of gloom descended on Kamala Nehru Zoological Park, Indore, following the death of B1, a Royal Bengal tiger who was 17 years and 6 months old. The tiger had moved to Indore city zoo in 2013 from Bhopal Van Vihar.
Autopsy of the royal wildcat was done on Saturday to find out the cause of death.
According to veterinarians, B1 died due to a minor heart attack induced by weakness and old age. Doctors said that it is normal for tigers to pass away after their lifespan and B1 lived a good life.
B1, who weighed about 150 kg was cremated in the city zoo at the allotted cremation ground on Saturday evening.
B1’s female partner Jamuna had recently given birth to three cubs out of which, two are surviving.
Zoo in charge Uttam Yadav said, “B1 was born in 2003 and he was brought to Indore from Bhopal in 2013 at the age of 10, and since then he has been one of the most lovable animal of the zoo”.
The tiger has fathered more than 10 cubs in city zoo. His memories will remain alive through his five cubs at city zoo.
B1 was among the few Royal Bengal tiger to have mated with a white tigress, Sita, in city zoo. She was brought from Aurangabad zoo in 2004, for the breeding programme, and after mating with B1, she gave birth to five cubs.
Yadav said, “I was at the city zoo hospital at around 4 pm when a zoo guard came in to inform that B1 had collapsed,” said Yadav.
He said that by the time he reached the spot, the tiger had died. The forest guard had seen the tiger shake three times unnaturally and then suddenly collapse.
According to Yadav, B1 showed no signs of any disease or illness. “He was not eating much, but it is normal due to his age. He would often roam in the shelter. We were not expecting it today but we knew that time was near,” said Yadav.
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