There is exciting news for the zoo lovers and residents of the region. Tata Steel Zoological Park has successfully added two majestic Royal Bengal tigers (Male & Female) to its wildlife family as part of a recent animal exchange program from Gorewada Zoo (Nagpur).

In return, the zoo has contributed a pair of African Grey Parrots (1 Male &  1 Female) to the partner institution, enhancing species conservation efforts. The tiger pair was brought by Dr Naim Akhtar (Dy Director & his team of veterinarian and keepers) from Nagpur in a truck on March 13 after 18 hours of travel.

The tigers are of wild origin and rescued due to unavoidable situations. The Tata zoo was in dire need for a male tiger to pair with two tigresses Sunaina and Saloni. The new tigers are kept in cells of a newly built tiger enclosure for quarantine. Once the quarantine period of 30 days is over, the zoo will try to mate male tigers with Sunaina and Saloni tigresses one by one.

It is to be noted that Kailash (White tiger) was father of Sunaina and Saloni, so the zoo hopes to get a few of white tiger cubs (baby) after breeding with the newly brought wild origin tiger. Addition of wild origin tigers will also increase the expected life span of new offspring as wild genes have a positive impact on health and life span.

The Central Zoo Authority approved this exchange proposal exclusively for the pairing and breeding of this endangered species in the zoo.

The newly arrived tigers are under the close supervision of experienced veterinarians and zookeepers. As on today, both the tigers are doing very well.

In the next phase of the exchange programme, Tata Zoo is set to receive four Muggers (2 Male & 2 Female), a species of crocodile native to the Indian subcontinent from Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (Mamallapuram), Tamil Nadu. In return, the zoo will be providing four Indian Star Tortoises (2 Male & 2 Female) to its partner institution. Muggers (Marsh Crocodile) are an essential part of wetland ecosystems, and their arrival at Tata Zoo will serve as a crucial step in educating visitors about the importance of crocodilian conservation. At the moment, the zoo has only one Mugger.