Mysore: Mysore zoo now has an added attraction : four new tiger cubs. The cubs ,born to tigress Manya, were displayed to the public on the occasion of World Tiger Day at the zoo on Monday and attracted a large number of excited visitors.
The 58 day old cubs -two males and two females – were born to the eight year old tigress on June 4 this year.
Manya mated in February this year with tiger Brahma ,caught in the Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary of Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in March 2008.
Manya and Brahma have mated in the past too. But of their three cubs delivered in May 2011, one died. Two males, Rama and Lakshmana survived and are doing well, according to zoo sources.
The zoo currently has 16 tigers , six male and four female and six cubs, including two cubs born to tigress Ansuya this month, which have not yet been put on public display The zoo attracts a large number of visitors particularly during the Dasara season.
“Mysore zoo has tigers, lions and leopards. In recent years, tigers have been successfully bred at three different times with the intention of introducing wild genes into zoo stock,” explains zoo executive director, B. P. R
