Four Tiger Cubs Born at Bhubaneswar’s Nandankanan Zoo

Bhubaneswar:  The Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) in Bhubaneswar welcomed the birth of four tiger cubs today. White tigress Rupa, sired by melanistic tiger Krishna, gave birth to the cubs early this morning, with the first arriving at 5:43 AM, followed by three more at intervals until 9:31 AM.

According to zoo authorities, Rupa is attentively caring for her newborns, and both mother and cubs are under constant CCTV surveillance to monitor their health and safety. The zoo also mentioned that it is too early to determine the sex of the cubs.

Rupa, a six-year-old white tigress born to Roshan and Bijaya at Nandankanan on September 22, 2018, has now become a mother for the third time. She previously mated with Rajesh, giving birth to three cubs on March 11, 2022. Unfortunately, two of those cubs did not survive, while the remaining cub, named Himanshi, was transferred to Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park on July 9, 2024, as part of an animal exchange program.

Rupa and Rajesh mated again, resulting in the birth of two cubs, Amrita and Shiva, on January 6, 2023. Both cubs are currently thriving at Nandankanan Zoo.

The recent birth of four cubs marks another significant milestone for the zoo, known for its dedication to wildlife conservation and its success in breeding tigers.