(IN): Zoo mulls tiger trade-off with Bhopal

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080521/jsp/guwahati/story_9297437.jsp

 

*Zoo mulls tiger trade-off with Bhopal*

A STAFF REPORTER

 

*May 20:* After hoolock gibbons from Shillong, now it could be a white

tigress from Bhopal.

 

The Assam state zoo is thinking of bringing in a " crowd puller " in exchange

for a male tiger from Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal. This trade-off has

come as a request from the national park for its conservation breeding

programme.

 

" We have not taken a decision, but we thinking of getting a white tiger. We

just have to say yes and the white tiger will arrive in no time, " the

divisional forest officer of the Assam state zoo, Narayan Mahanta, said. In

exchange, the state zoo will send a male tiger to the national park.

 

At present, the zoo has 11 tigers, of which seven are male. There is demand

for Assam zoo tigers as they are considered to be of genetically good breed.

 

 

Mahanta said the Central Zoo Authority had identified both Van Vihar

National Park and the Assam state zoo for breeding of tigers.

 

The national park in Bhopal has 11 young tigresses, including three white

ones. But they do have any partner for the past five months because of the

death of male tigers in the park. The park has brought a male tiger from

Kanha National Park. The tiger from Assam zoo would be the second.

 

Salini Sharma, an animal lover and frequent visitor to the zoo, said a white

tiger would add to the zoo's collection of tigers. " Assam zoo has one of the

best collections of tigers. All we are missing is a white tiger, " she added.

 

 

Mahanta said the chances of a white tigress giving birth to white cubs after

mating with a normal tiger was 50-50.

 

Two cubs had been born to Govardana and Divya in the state zoo recently,

taking the tiger count in the zoo to 11.

 

Mahanta said the zoo could keep 10 tigers comfortably and if they brought in

a white tigress, they would have to give away another tiger. " This will not

be a problem as we have received inquiries about tigers from all over the

country, " he added.

 

Borako Zoo has also been in touch with the state zoo for tigers. The Central

Zoo Authority has asked the state zoo to inquire about the facilities in

Borako Zoo before taking a decision to send tigers to that zoo, Mahanta

said.

 

" We have no problems in providing tigers to Van Vihar as it is a national

park. But we think twice before sending tigers to a zoo. All zoos are not

like Assam zoo, which is considered to be one of the best in the country, "

he added.

 

 

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