White Tiger Cub Dies at Nandankanan Zoo; Siblings Under Observation

Bhubaneswar: A seven-month-old white tiger cub died at Nandankanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar, Odisha officials said on Monday. The cub was one of three born on November 2 last year to melanistic tiger Krishna and white tigress Rupa.
According to officials, the cub had been under veterinary care since March after showing signs of lameness. It had been receiving regular medical treatment, including diagnostic imaging, medications, and nutritional support.
Experts from the Centre for Wildlife Health (CWH) had examined the cub, and blood tests had not indicated any major abnormalities. Though there were signs of initial improvement, the cub continued to display some degree of lameness.
“On the night of May 31, the cub fed normally and showed no visible signs of distress. However, the next day (June 1), it was found struggling and succumbed in the evening,” a zoo official said. The exact cause of death will be confirmed following a post-mortem examination.
The cub was being reared alongside its two siblings—one white and one normal-coloured—under the care of their mother. Worryingly, zoo authorities noted that the remaining cubs are also showing similar symptoms. Veterinary screening and preventive treatments are currently underway.
This is the second white tiger cub from the same parents to die at the zoo this year. In January, a two-month-old female cub also passed away. With this latest loss, Nandankanan Zoo now houses 27 tigers, including 18 normal-coloured tigers, 5 white tigers, and 4 melanistic tigers.