Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: The white tiger count at Nandankanan Zoological Park Sunday plummeted to eight after a 16-year-old christened Kishan succumbed to prolonged illness.
“We had detected symptoms of paralysis and the feline was undergoing medical treatment for the past two years at the veterinary hospital at the zoo. After suffering from pneumonia and hepatitis, the animal succumbed to illness,” deputy director of the zoo Jayant Dash said.
The white tiger was born in the zoo to white tigress Sriya and Royal Bengal tiger Rama.
The zoo is home to 26 tigers, including three male and five female white tigers.
The zoo hogged the limelight in 1980 after white tigers were born to Royal Bengal Tigers. Since then, white tigers have been attracting a number of visitors from Orissa and other states.
However, from 34 white tigers in 2000, their number has dwindled down to a lowly eight with the death of Kishan. The dwindling count of white tigers has become a cause of concern, said officials.
