Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, commonly known as Lucknow zoo received four cubs on Thursday. Rescued after a long search operation in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), the cubs will be kept in shelters at Lucknow for better care and protection. First witnessed by a field forest team on March 14, the cubs went away from the officers’ sight soon. After focused efforts, they were found by the authorities almost 12 days after their mother died.
Coming operation with 25 cameras for the search
Almost two weeks ago, the dead remains of a tigress were spotted in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR). The forest officers also observed four cubs around her and attempted to rescue them. Before such plans could be materialised, the cubs went missing leaving the authorities worried. They feared if the cubs became fodder for carnivores or lost their lives because of starvation. It is noteworthy here, that a cub can survive independently only after it is eight months old. Before that, it can not survive past a stretch of 8 days without receiving nutrition from the other.
In order to amplify the search, a combing operation was initiated supplemented by the setting up of 25 camera traps around the spot where the carcass was found. After a string of measures couldn’t locate the cub, the search activity was left midway on March 18.
Paw-marks guided the forest officers to the cubs
Post a long wait, the forest officers were guided to the cub through an incident on Wednesday. Speaking about this, Deputy Director of PTR Naveen Khandelwal said, “A forest patrol team, on Wednesday, saw pug marks of tiger cubs about one km from the area where their mother had died. After a few hours of search, we found them alive and well, hiding within the shrubs in the core forest’s Mala range.”
After being rescued, the cubs went into care of the authorities who made sure to rejevunate them. While they were hydrated with necessary electrolyte supplements, goat milk ensured that their nutrition levels were revived. In order to make the cubs comfortable, they were kept away from excessive human contact and hence weighing process could not be completed.
