Eight-year-old Anu, the white tigress in Vandalur zoo, gave birth to three cubs late Thursday night. Now, the total number of white tigers at the Arignar Anna zoological park in Vanadalur has gone up to ten.
Officials said that CCTVs have been fixed to monitor Anu’s behaviour with her new cubs. There are 106 white tigers in India. They are commonly found in South Asian countries like India and China. “We have arranged extra food for her as she has to feed her cubs and provide her with seven kg of beef and four kg of chicken everyday. She delivered the cubs after 103 days of pregnancy. An exclusive 24 hour medical unit has been posted to take care of the mother and the cubs,” zoo director K.S.S.V.P. Reddy said.
Father Beeshmar, 9, and mother Anu, 8, were brought to Vandalur zoo five years ago. When the young tiger couple first came to Vandalur, they were not able to accustom to Chennai’s climate. “We provided special facilities to maintain specific temperature inside their den. Anu first gave birth to three cubs in 2008 . While one of the cubs died, the other two were given extra care and are now fine,” he added. In 2009, three cubs were born , making the total count seven including two male and five female tigresses. “Now with the three new cubs, we have 10 tigers. The sex of these three cubs will be known after a fortnight,” he said.