White Tigress Mousumi Gives Birth to Two Cubs at Nandankanan Zoo

In a moment of celebration for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, white tigress Mousumi gave birth to two healthy cubs at Nandankanan Zoological Park on the night of 7 June.

The cubs were delivered in Enclosure 28B, with the first arriving at 9:15 PM and the second at 11:03 PM.

Based on visual assessment, one cub appears to be white, like its mother, while the other seems to have a normal orange coat. The sex of the cubs is yet to be determined, as they remain under the protective care of Mousumi. Zoo authorities confirmed that the mother and cubs are being closely monitored to ensure their health and observe maternal behaviour.

The birth comes after successful mating between Mousumi and normal-coloured tiger Rajesh on 27 and 28 February 2025. This is Mousumi’s second litter. Both parents were born at Nandankanan—Mousumi on 5 August 2016 to Manish and Sneha, and Rajesh on 22 September 2018 to Roshan and Bijaya.

With this birth, Nandankanan’s total tiger population now stands at 29, comprising:

19 normal-coloured tigers (11 males, 7 females, 1 cub)
6 white tigers (3 males, 2 females, 1 cub)
4 melanistic tigers (3 males, 1 female)

This successful delivery not only adds to the zoo’s tiger population but also reinforces Nandankanan’s commitment to conservation breeding and the preservation of endangered species.