Bhubaneswar: The Nandankanan Zoological Park authorities on Sunday informed about the death of a white tiger cub at the zoo, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar city.
It was one of two cubs born to white tigress Mousumi on June 7, which marked a significant milestone in the zoo’s conservation breeding programme. The cubs were the result of successful mating between Mousumi and Rajesh, a normal-coloured tiger, in late February.
According to sources, the cub had been keeping unwell since birth. It was kept under special care at the zoo’s veterinary unit, away from its mother, and succumbed on Saturday night.
The total count of white tigers at Nandankanan has now come down to five. The overall tiger population stands at 28 – 19 normal-coloured, 5 white, and four melanistic tigers.
A seven-month-old white tiger cub, born to a melanistic tiger and a white tigress in the zoo, had also died earlier this year due to suspected distress.