Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 25: The mating of the wild tiger that had sneaked into Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) two years ago has been long overdue as the predator is taking time to make itself comfortable with a tigress near its enclosure.
A few months back, the zoo authorities had shifted a tigress closer to the wild tiger’s off-exhibit enclosure (31-D) so that the felines can get to know each other before mating takes place. The mating of the wild tiger is aimed at creating a gene pool in the NZP.
The wild tiger was consistently trying to sneak into the NZP and after efforts of the zoo authorities, it finally made its way to the white tiger safari April 30, 2013. The big cat was later shifted to the off-exhibit enclosure. To keep a watch on the predator, the NZP had installed CCTV cameras after it scaled an 18-ft fence to escape from the zoo. The feline once again re-entered the zoo under mysterious circumstances.
Principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) SS Srivastava said a tigress has been shifted to the wild tiger’s enclosure so that their behaviour can be examined before arranging their mating. “Unless we ensure that there is no animosity between the two, we cannot allow them to mate,” he added.
“I have learnt that the predators have responded to each other positively but it can’t be said that they are ready for the breeding. NZP is doing it cautiously which is a good thing,” noted wildlife expert and member of State Board for Wildlife (Orissa) Lala AK Singh told this newspaper.
Notably, a wild tiger had also walked into the zoo in 1964 prompting the authorities to do mating of the wild tiger and a captive tigress.
