Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

White tigers let out for ‘day crawl’

Photo: K.R. Deepak

getting pally: A pair of white tigers at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. —

VISAKHAPATNAM: The imperial white coat and imposing build surely make for a royal sight. One of the attractions at the zoo, the pair of white tigers at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park was let out together for ‘day crawl’ for the first time recently. After a long wait, the zoo authorities finally put them out together. While the pair appeared friendly initially, the huge build and aggressiveness of the male Sirish seemed to bother its partner Kumari. “It’s always risky the first time. If the female shows even a little resistance, it can prove fatal for her since the male is very aggressive and almost double her size,” zoo curator Rahul Pandey told The Hindu.

Deaths due to feuds among the felines have plagued the zoo authorities in the past. In 2002, three 22-month-old tiger cubs killed a full-grown tigress after a brief quarrel between them. In 1986, two male tigers killed a tigress fighting over their mating rights.

Infighting also led to the death of tigers at the Animal Rescue Centre few years ago. Unlike lions, tigers are not group animals and prefer to lead a solitary life with a clearly demarcated geographical jurisdiction for each of them. Any infringement leads to a fight-to-finish to prove supremacy, which was the main cause of death of these animals.

“Wildcat behaviour is very unpredictable. We are keeping a close watch on the behavioural patterns of the white tigers to avoid any untoward incidents,” Mr. Pandey said. With the pair appearing comfortable with each other, the zoo authorities are taking concerted efforts to try and breed them in the natural environs of the zoo park.

White tigers are at risk of extinction with a world population of less than 133 and are seen only in zoos. With just three gene pools, inbreeding depressions are causing stillbirths, early mortality rates, reduced fertility and physical deformities in the newborns. Unlike common belief, white tiger is not an albino, but a rare recessive gene that had somehow surfaced.

Being an inferior species, it is highly vulnerable to diseases and epidemics. Wildlife enthusiasts fear that the white tigers being an inferior species might disappear completely.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Ravuri receives Loknayak award
Andhra Sabarimala near Annavaram
Pet show on January 25
White tigers let out for ‘day crawl’
State going soft on Satyam: Chiru
Security consciousness high after Mumbai attacks
BJP wants Opposition to relax stand
Mega love for Vizag
Two students commit suicide
Ganja seized
Create more States: N. S. Ramaswamy
Tributes paid to NTR
VUDA to expedite clearing of files
Stop work on Gangavaram port: Chiru
Visakhapatnam Today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu