Three newborn tiger cubs have died after being accidentally bitten by their mother while trying to move them in the Siliguri zoo in West Bengal.
The incident took place on Thursday at North Bengal Wild Animals Park, also known as Bengal Safari Park. “This is a tragic incident. Last week, a female royal Bengal tiger named Rika gave birth to three cubs. On Thursday, she was trying to take her children to a night shelter inside the compound. “The mother accidentally bit the cub’s neck,” said a zoo official.
“The cub’s windpipe was ruptured by the mother’s teeth. The skin of newborn babies is very delicate and thin. Two children died on the spot and another was seriously injured. Despite our best efforts, the third child died on Friday night. We need to be more vigilant to prevent such incidents from happening again. Rika is grieving,” the official added.
Talking to reporters, zoo director Vijay Kumar confirmed that the death of the cub was due to the mother’s mistake and said that an investigation is underway to understand the cause of death.
Rika’s behavior is being closely watched, officials said.
North Bengal Wildlife Park is spread over 297 acres near Siliguri city and is a major tourist attraction. Tiger Safari was inaugurated in 2017 by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Apart from tigers, the zoo also boasts of animals like rhinos, elephants, antelopes and the Asiatic black bear.