Reincarnating Raipur
At Maitri Bagh Zoo of Bhilai, a white tigress ‘Raksha’ has given birth to three cubs recently. Now the total number of white cats residing in the zoo has turned to nine. All three cubs are the kids of Tiger Sultan. Including 4 males & 2 females, there were 6 white cats until the arrival of these 3 cubs at the zoo. Cubs are just one month old, thus for their safety, they can’t be kept along with them. The age difference may create complexes among them.
“Both the cubs & their mom ‘Raksha’ have been kept in a dark room for the security purpose of the cubs, and according to the safety rules of the big white cats. We can’t even touch these cubs as this act can make her mother stop feeding her milk. If we touch the cubs, there is a possibility of different odors coming from the body of the cubs. After the period of four months, they will be able to consume meat in small pieces and will continue to be breastfed for 6 months from the day of their birth”, said Dr. N.K. Jain is in charge of the zoo and DGM, horticulture & health at BSP Bhilai. He further shared that according to veterinary medical procedures, the newly born cubs are always kept in a dark room with their mother, under the surveillance of veterinary medical experts for overseeing breastfeeding and other vital health parameters. To ensure the proper nourishment of the newly born cubs, a special diet consisting of vitamin-rich health supplements is being served to the cubs for their healthy and complete growth. Post the fourth month of the care period of cubs, they will be exposed to the outer world and hence will be available for public display at the zoo.
As per the rules set by the Central Zoo Authority, Maitri Bagh Zoo has bred over 12 white tigers previously, which have also been exchanged with more than five Zoos in the country. Zoos of Indore, Bokaro, Mukundpur, Lucknow, and Rajkot have been provided with white tigers by Maitri Bagh Zoo.
