Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoo Mourns Loss Of Tigress Sara

Bhubaneswar: Eighteen-year-old tigress Sara died after battling age-related health issues in her enclosure in Nandankanan Zoological Park, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, in the early hours of Thursday,

”It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing away of Sara, a cherished wild tigress and an integral part of the Nandankanan family,” the zoo authorities said in a statement.

Sara, who was rescued from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh as a five months old cub and reared at Van Vihar Zoological Park in Bhopal, was brought to Nandankanan on April 18, 2006, under an animal exchange programme. “Sara became a vital participant in our conservation breeding programme, infusing new bloodlines by giving birth to Asha, Ankita, and Subhashree on January 13, 2012, sired by the tiger Rishi. Asha was later transferred to Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, under another animal exchange programme,” it said.

The zoo authorities said that Sara appeared dull, was unable to stand, and had laboured breathing on February 29. While there was some improvement in her condition after antibiotics and supportive therapy, she developed decubitus ulcer on both hip joints on March 21. “Despite accepting food, she gradually became emaciated. On June 26, Sara was seen in lateral recumbency with feeble respiration. Despite all our efforts, she breathed her last on June 27 at 4.42 am,” it added.

With Sara’s demise, Nandankanan’s tiger count now stands at 26.