Nandankanan Zoological Park welcomed a new addition to its tiger family today. Ankita, a normal-coloured tigress, gave birth to a cub in the morning. Both the mother and the newborn are currently under CCTV surveillance to ensure their well-being.
The birth follows a 103-day gestation period, with the cub sired by tiger Saif. The mating between Ankita and Saif was observed on November 13, 2024.
With this latest birth, the total tiger population at Nandankanan Zoo now stands at 28, including 16 males, 11 females, and one cub whose sex is yet to be determined.
Ankita, born on January 13, 2012, to tigers Rishi and Sara at Nandankanan, has now delivered eight offspring across three litters. Her first litter, born on January 12, 2018, included a male cub who died after a day and a female cub named Silky. Her second litter, born on February 17, 2023, consisted of one male cub (Amit), three female cubs (Shree, Jayashree, Trupti), and one stillborn cub.
Among her total offspring, two have died, four are surviving, and two have been relocated—Silky was transferred to Jaipur Zoo in March 2021, while Trupti was moved to Alipore Zoo, Kolkata, in August 2024.
This new birth marks another significant milestone for Nandankanan Zoological Park, contributing to the conservation and growth of the tiger population.
