The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : White tigress gives birth to three cubs

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

White tigress gives birth to three cubs

P.Oppili

This is a first-time event at the Vandalur zoo

CHENNAI: The three-and-half-year-old white tigress, Anu, at Vandalur zoo gave birth to three cubs early on Tuesday.

It is the first time that a white tigress has delivered cubs at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur, since the facility was established nearly 24 years ago.

A pair of white tiger was brought from the National Zoo, New Delhi, to the Vandalur facility in exchange for a pair of Lion-tailed macaque nearly five years ago, said P.L. Ananthasamy, Chief Conservator of Forests and zoo director.

To create a congenial atmosphere for the animal to give birth, the authorities cordoned off the entire enclosure. Gunny bags were put around the enclosure to reduce heat, he said.

Camera recorders

In order to monitor the delivery of cubs, the authorities set up camera recorders inside the enclosure and connected them to a monitor.

On Tuesday morning after the birth of the cubs, the authorities saw the recording, which revealed that Anu delivered the three cubs in a span of a few minutes.

All the cubs were healthy, Mr. Ananthasamy said, adding that the media would be shown the cubs after about a fortnight.

When the authorities visited the enclosure on Tuesday morning, not a drop of blood was found inside.

The entire place was clean and there was no odour. Wildlife authorities said the tiger was one of the animals which always maintained personal hygiene.

Diet

Talking about the diet to be given to the white tigress, the zoo authorities said that they usually provide nearly seven kg of beef to Anu for six days.

She was not given anything to eat a day. But, due to the delivery, she would be provided the usual diet on all seven days for some weeks, they added.

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