Bhubaneswar: The tiger count at Nandankanan Zoological Park has increased to 29 after white tigress Rupa gave birth to two white cubs and a normal cub on Friday.
Zoo deputy director Sanjeet Kumar, however, said that zoo authorities were tending to the cubs as the tigress, who became a mother for the first time at the age of just 3.5 years, was unable to do so, the TNIE reported.
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“A tigress normally becomes mother after four years. It will be a challenge for us to save the cubs and hand-rear them,” he told the nationally daily.
The newborns, weighing more than 1 kg, are responding well to caretakers.
The zoo now has six white tigers. Of the 29 tigers at the zoo, 16 are males and 10 females, besides the three newborns.
