White tigress' cubs on display

World Tiger Day gift: New attraction at zoo from today

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens has good news for animal lovers on World Tiger Day, celebrated every year on July 29.

This year, to commemorate Tiger Day, four cubs born to white tigress Manya on June 4 at the zoo, will be open for public view. This is the second litter of Manya.

However, zoo authorities, who had hoped that one of the offsprings among the litter will be white, were disappointed.

“There are two male and two female cubs. All are healthy. However, none of them are white,” said Executive Director of the zoo B P Ravi.

Manya, was successfully mated for the second time with Brahma, caught from Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. Manya gave birth to the four cubs in the early hours of June 4.

In 2011, eight-year-old Manya had delivered three cubs; two male and a female. Unfortunately, the female cub died due to injuries inflicted by the bite of the mother while lifting. The two male cubs were named Rama and Lakshmana.

Though zoo authorities were concerned about the welfare of the new borns, Manya, as seen during the previous litter, took good care of the cubs, by attending to them and caressing them.

During the last weighing of cubs, a week ago, each cub weighed around six kilograms.

Wild genes introduced

Mysore Zoo has succeeded for the third time in its attempt to introduce ‘wild genes into the zoo stock’.

Zoo authorities were successful in pairing Brahma, captured from the wild in 2008, with Manya, who was born in the zoo.

Addition of Brahma, has helped the zoo in introducing new bloodline among captive tigers, and thereby increase genetic diversity of the animals.