Nandankanan zoo in Odisha releases video footage of black tiger cub

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, July 30:

Authorities of Nandankanan zoo in Odisha on Tuesday released video footage of a black tiger cub born to white tigress Sneha late on the night of June 27.

With this, Nandankanan has become the first zoo in the country to have a black tiger.

Taking to the media, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) SS Srivastava  said; “Black tigers are usually seen in the Similipal jungle. However, the birth of the black tiger cub at the Nandankanan zoo is rare as no other zoo in India has a black tiger.”

Expressing hope that the health of four cubs, including the black one, would be fine, director of the zoo Sudarsan Panda said zoo officials have been monitoring every movement of Sneha and her four cubs round the clock since the mortality rate of tiger cubs is quite high.

“Since the mother tigress is taking every care of her cubs by providing them with her milk at regular intervals, the cubs will maintain good health,” he pointed out.

Despite this, however, the zoo authorities are not taking any chances and the vets have been put on round the clock alert to meet any eventuality, he said.

To ensure good heath of the mother tigress, the zoo staff have provided her with 3 kg of chicken mixed with vitamins and minerals, Panda added.