Rescued cub active, eating well

The male tiger cub, which was rescued from Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarahole and shifted to Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in the city, has recovered during the course of one week.

The male cub, was one of the three cubs found in a severely malnourished state by Forest department personnel at Metikuppe Forest Range in Nagarahole on January 15, after the mother tigress had abandoned the cub, owing to its death or injury or other reasons. While two cubs, one male and female, had succumbed to starvation, the surviving cub was rehabilitated.


Speaking to Deccan Herald, Executive Director of the Zoo, B P Ravi said that the cub was doing well, and was adjusting to the conditions of the Zoo. “The cub is very active and is eating well, which is a good sign,” he said.


The cub, when shifted to the Zoo, apart from being malnourished, was also under severe trauma. Zoo authorities, apart from feeding the animal at regular intervals had left the cub alone. “It helped the ten month-old-cub recover from stress, and assisted its rehabilitation,” he said.


Responding to a question, he said that there were no directions regarding shifting the animal. Ravi also dismissed the possibility of reintroducing the abandoned cub into the wild. “The cub is very young and will not survive in the wild. Rehabilitation efforts to improve the health condition of the tiger will continue,” he said.

Tiger numbers


There was also a possibility of the cub being used for captive breeding purposes at the Zoo, he said.


With the male cub, the number of tigers at the Zoo is now 15. Of the tigers, eight were rescued from the wild and rehabilitated at the Zoo.