DARJEELING,:
Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP), popularly known as Darjeeling
zoo, welcomed two white tigers on Thursday night, as part of an exchange
programme with Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad. The tigers arrived under the
escort of zoo veterinarians and staff.
As
part of the exchange, the PNHZP gifted a pair of tigers and several pheasants
to the Hyderabad zoo. The two white tigers, one male aged 4 years and a female
aged 7 years, have been placed in separate enclosures and are under close
observation by zoo staff. An official from the zoo, who chose to remain
unnamed, confirmed that the tigers are healthy and in good condition. They will
be quarantined before being displayed to the public, the staff added.
Asked
about the potential inclusion of the white tigers in the zoo’s breeding
programme, the official clarified that the primary goal of acquiring the white
tigers was to “enhance the beauty of the zoo.”
Currently,
the Darjeeling zoo is home to a Royal Bengal tiger and two Siberian tigers. The
Siberian tigers, Akamas and Lara, were previously brought in from a Cyprus zoo.
White
tigers are particularly known for their distinctive white fur, which results
from a lack of the pigment pheomelanin found in Bengal tigers with orange fur.
These tigers tend to grow faster and heavier than their orange counterparts
with males reaching weights of 200 to 250 kilograms and lengths of up to 3
meters.
As
part of the exchange programme, the Nehru Zoological Park also gifted two pairs
of Golden jackals to PNHZP in exchange for a pair of tigers along with Golden
and Silver Lady Amherst and Cheer pheasants.
The
PNHZP is renowned for its successful conservation and breeding programs,
particularly for endangered species like red panda, snow leopard and Tibetan
wolf. The zoo’s breeding efforts have resulted in a significant population of
endangered animals, including 18 red pandas and 11 snow leopards, making it one
of the leading breeding centers for these species in the country.
