Aurangabad, Dec 25:
The tigress Samruddhi gave birth to five cubs in the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation''s (AMC) zoo today early morning. In April 2019, the same tigress had given birth to four cubs. Meanwhile, it is the biggest challenge before the civic authorities to protect mother and cubs'' health due to the winter season. The strength of big cats has tolled 14 in the zoo after the inclusion of five new borns.
It may be noted that there were nine big cats (tigers and tigress) in the zoo. Today between 5 am and 6 am, Samruddhi gave birth to the cubs. Siddharth and Samruddhi are parents of these five cubs. The health of cubs is fine, and are kept under observation of an expert officer. Besides, the civic body has appointed a caretaker to look after them round the clock. He will be the sole person who will be going inside the enclosure of tigress.
Presently, Samruddhi is feeding milk to the cubs. There is a drop in the city''s climate. Hence, the AMC has placed a heater in the enclosure to maintain warmth in the enclosure. They are under CCTV surveillance.
The zoo''s director Dr B S Naikwade said, " The strength of tigers in our zoo has now reached to 14 after the birth of five cubs. The delivery has taken place after 18 months in the zoo."
Samruddhi has delivered 12 cubs till to date. On November 12, 2016, it had given birth to three cubs including one male cub, and on April 26, 2019, it had delivered four cubs including one male cub.
It may be noted that presently in the backdrop of Coronavirus, the AMC administration has kept the garden as well as the zoo closed for the public to avoid gathering of citizens and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus at the public place. As a result, there is silence everywhere on the zoo campus.