White tiger cubs named, unveiled for public view at Maitri Bagh Zoo

 

 

Staff Reporter :

 

BHILAI, 

 

The three white tiger cubs - one female and two male born on April 28 this year to white tigers ‘Raksha’ and ‘Sultan’ were named ‘Rustam’, ‘Rana’ and ‘Bobby’. The Maitri Bagh Zoo, managed by SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant’s Horticulture section of Town Service Department (TSD), as a part of Independence Day celebrations, named the cubs and unveiled them for public view by releasing inside a bigger enclosure.

 

The white tiger cubs started playing, pouncing and wrestling with siblings due to the excitement of being released at a bigger space, and have become the new centre of attraction for visitors at Maitri Bagh Zoo. People from Bhilai and nearby areas are swarming at the zoo to have a glimpse of the cubs, for they look adorable due to their white fur with black stripes and vibrant blue eyes. The fascinating sight of cubs-trio exploring every nook and corner of their new enclosure playfully with soft paws inspires us to put efforts for protection and conservation of these extraordinary species.

 

The mother-tigress Raksha has been nursing the cubs carefully for nearly four months now, under the constant vigil of the Zoo’s veterinary medical team. Veterinarian Dr N K Jain, DGM (Horticulture - TSD) said that the mother and litter are being appropriately taken care of, as per the guidelines laid down by the Central Zoo Authority. Plenty of food and vitamin and calcium-rich health supplements, are being administered to the nursing tigresses to enhance milking, nourishment and healthy growth of the cubs. With the sincere conservation efforts of the BSP Management Maitri Bagh has become one of the top zoos of India with highest numbers of White Tigers. The Maitri Bagh management has bred over 12 white tigers in the past, which has also been exchanged with more than 5 Zoos of the country as per the rules laid down by the Central Zoo Authority. The new births take the total number of white tigers at the Maitri Bagh Zoo to 9.

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