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.