Rescued tiger cub arrives at Vandalur zoo

Three-month-old female had strayed into plantation in Sathyamangalam reserve

February 25, 2014 02:13 am | Updated May 18, 2016 10:45 am IST - CHENNAI

At present, the cub has been housed in an enclosure. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

At present, the cub has been housed in an enclosure. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

A three-month-old female tiger cub that strayed into a banana plantation in Thalamalai village in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) on Saturday night was brought to the Vandalur zoo on Monday morning for rehabilitation.

Zoo authorities said the cub was transported safely in a special ambulance, which arrived here around 9.30 a.m. A team of officials headed by range officer of Thalamalai, STR, along with half a dozen field staff, brought the cub to the zoo.

Talking about the condition of the animal, a senior zoo official said the animal was very weak. Though the cub was not experiencing any shivering, its stress level was very high and it was very aggressive, he said.

At present, the cub has been housed in an enclosure behind the veterinary hospital on the zoo premises. It is a spacious one, measuring 30 feet in length and 20 feet in breadth. This enclosure was earlier used to house lions that were rescued from circuses before the construction of the rescue and rehabilitation centre for tigers and lions. Soon after the cub was shifted to the enclosure, it settled in a corner, an official said.

Zoo authorities said minced chicken pieces along with milk was provided to the animal. Forest officials in the STR had provided it about 10 minced chicken pieces, which the animal polished off, STR authorities said.

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