Weeks after largest litter of Royal Bengal tiger cubs born in Delhi zoo in decades, only two of six survive
One of the cubs is in stable condition and the other has shown neither signs of improvement, nor deterioration
3 min read
Royal Bengal tigress Aditi gave birth to the cubs on August 4It was a new record for the National Zoological Park in Delhi earlier this month when Royal Bengal tigress Aditi on August 4 gave birth to six cubs — the largest litter of cubs the zoo had seen in two decades. Three weeks later, only two of the six cubs have survived.
Two cubs died on Friday morning. Two others had died within a week of birth — the weakest one succumbed on August 8, while the other died two days later, as it could not be fed despite being shifted to the zoo hospital.
This is the first case in recent years where all newborn tiger cubs at the Delhi zoo had to be separated from their mother, and shifted to the hospital for hand-rearing. Zoo director Dr Sanjeet Kumar confirmed the deaths and said, “All the possible treatment and precautions are being taken at the zoo hospital to save the cubs.”
According to zoo veterinarian Dr Abhijit Bhawal, three cubs were admitted to the hospital on Wednesday morning after showing signs of illness — dullness, loss of appetite, high temperature, and moist nostrils.
“Of the three tiger cubs admitted yesterday, sadly two of them succumbed early this morning. Samples have been sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute for a detailed investigation. However preliminary findings suggest a viral or haemoprotozoan infection. Confirmation will be received in a few days. The remaining cub is still undergoing treatment,” Bhawal said.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024, cubs born at the zoo survived under the care of their mothers. “There have been cases where they survived. In Nahargarh Jaipur Zoo, five tiger cubs survived. At NZP in 2022, 2023, 2024 all tiger cubs born were taken care of by their mother and survived. However, this year, we succeeded in getting four tiger cubs but were successful in hand-rearing only two. Again we got six tiger cubs and of which only two are left and also they are being hand-reared,” Bhawal added.
Earlier this week, the zoo officials had said that the cubs born to tigress Aditi were shifted to the hospital as they were not feeding on their mother’s milk and showed signs of infection. They were kept separately in a room and were under continuous care of the veterinary team.
With these deaths, the zoo now has only two tiger cubs and both remain in the hospital under veterinary care. One of the cubs is in stable condition and the other has shown neither signs of improvement, nor deterioration, said Dr Bhawal, adding all efforts are being put for its survival. “The healthy cub is suckling milk and her weight is also increasing.”
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