Born captive, the white male tiger was no maneater
For the seven-year-old male white tiger, Vijay, the face-off with a human being took himself by surprise, said zoo officials. This is because he was a born captive and was “in no means a maneater.” In fact, according to wildlife experts, white tigers are generally meek and insecure. Being confronted with any such untoward situation, they suggest that one should not panic and a larger organised group of people should form a trail and drive the animal away.
The white tiger, which killed a 20-year-old man at the Delhi zoo on Tuesday, is not at fault, wildlife experts said. “Vijay (the white tiger) was born in the zoo only and hence, has no idea of hunting. He is not a maneater, which is proven by the fact that it did not do anything to the man for several minutes until visitors began pelting stones. Another proof is that it did not feed on the youth, but just mauled him and dragged him around,” said RA Khan, curator (Education), Delhi Zoo.
According to Chief Wildlife Conservator, AK Shukla, tigers (especially white tigers), are supposed to be the meekest when compared to a leopard, a lion or even cheetah. “White tigers genetically are meek because they are cross-bred animals. Captive white tigers would be even less aggressive in that sense. They are not to be disturbed or taunted as the species is very insecure in general. In Tuesday’s case also, the tiger mauled the man only after it was provoked by the people,” said Shukla.
“If anyone is confronted with any animal or reptile the first thing is not to panic. The environment should be kept calm and people should create a trail which the creature could follow and leave. Such cases mostly occur when animals suddenly land up in their non-habitat zone,” added Shukla.
Meanwhile, the killer tiger, Vijay, that killed the youth on Tuesday eats nearly 10 kilograms of buffalo meat daily, an official said. “Vijay, the white tiger, is fed 10 kilos of buffalo meat, and is also given glucose, daily in summers. However, during winter, his food intake is increased and he is fed 12 kilos of meat,” said an official at the city’s National Zoological Park. The official said that Vijay undergoes a thorough medical check up every three months. Born to lakshman and Yamuna in 2007, Vijay weighs 200 kilos. He shares his enclosure with two other white tigers. All three are freed from their cage one at a time for nearly four hours a day.