The Nandankanan Anchalik Nagarik Manch (NANM) on Saturday demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ensure keeping the wild tiger which entered into the white tiger safari of the Nandankanan Zoo on April 29 is not sent back to forest but kept in the zoo for the benefit of the zoo and wildlife conservation.
The Manch members presented the views of tiger experts who have opined that the inbreeding factor at Nandankanan is not at all congenial as the cubs are getting diseased and facing a premature death.
Scientifically and culturally, inbreeding is unhealthy. “For this reason, a wild tiger is essential for tiger production in the zoo so that it would be able to get healthy cubs,” said Manch convener Subash Chandra Patra.
The NANM members said the forest where the tiger was living earlier is still unknown. “It is obvious that the tiger was in panic in that forest, and it is our duty to sympathise with the tiger to give it a safe place,” said ubash Chandra Patra.