Probe on into deaths of two tigresses in 24-hour span at Alipore Zoo

Aged 17 and 21, the tigresses died of ‘old age’ according to zoo officials, but the timings of the deaths prompted a Central Zoo Authority investigation

The very next day, a second loss struck the zoo. Rupa, a 21-year-old white tigress born and raised at Alipore, passed away on Wednesday morning. (Representational)

An air of mourning hangs over the Alipore Zoo following the deaths of two of its beloved tigress residents, Payal and Rupa, in a span of 24 hours. The close timings of the deaths to each other has also raised suspicion, prompting a high-level investigation by the Central Zoo Authority.

The first to pass was Payal, a 17-year-old striped tigress who died on Tuesday morning. Payal, who was brought to Alipore from Nandankanan in Odisha in 2016, had been in failing health for some time. As per Zoo officials, she had been suffering from various age-related ailments and had lost her mobility and appetite.

The very next day, a second loss struck the zoo. Rupa, a 21-year-old white tigress born and raised at Alipore, passed away on Wednesday morning. The daughter of a striped tigress named ‘Krishna’ and a white tiger named ‘Anirban’, Rupa was also suffering from the effects of old age, including paralysis in one of her legs.

While zoo authorities attribute both deaths to old age, concerns led the Central Zoo Authority to establish an investigation committee to look into the matter. The bodies of both tigresses have been sent for post-mortem examinations at the Alipore veterinary hospital, conducted by a three-doctor team and recorded on video to ensure transparency. The exact cause of death will be determined after a viscera examination.

Sweety Kumari

Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More

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