Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, widely known as the Byculla Zoo or Ranibaug, has been struck by tragedy with the loss of two of its majestic tigers within a span of just two months. The deaths have raised concerns among wildlife enthusiasts, though zoo authorities have firmly stated that the two incidents are not connected.
A Respected Matriarch Succumbs to Illness
The first blow came on November 17, when a nine-and-a-half-year-old Royal Bengal tigress named Shakti passed away. The official cause of death was respiratory failure, which was a consequence of pneumonia. Shakti was a well-known resident and a mother, having given birth to cubs at the facility.
The Untold Story of a Frail Cub
However, it has now been revealed that another death had occurred earlier, which was not publicly announced at the time. On October 29, roughly two weeks before Shakti's demise, a three-year-old male tiger cub named Rudra died around 10 pm.
Civic officials explained that they chose not to make a public announcement about Rudra's death because the cub had been under long-term veterinary treatment and was not on display for visitors. "As per protocols, the administration had informed the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the state government immediately," an official stated. "He was ill for a prolonged period and was not available for public viewing, unlike Shakti."
Officials Assert No Connection Between Deaths
Zoo authorities have strongly emphasized that the two tragic events are absolutely unrelated. A thorough review of medical records indicates that one death did not trigger the other. They are considered separate cases stemming from different health conditions.
Rudra's story is particularly poignant. Born in November 2022 to tigresses Shakti and Karishma, he faced significant health challenges from the very beginning. Officials revealed that Rudra's immunity was extremely weak since birth, so much so that he had to be hand-held by caretakers after being born.
"His size was smaller, and he was underweight. In contrast, his sibling, the other three-year-old cub named Jay, is very healthy," an official explained. Rudra's health parameters consistently remained below normal levels.
His struggles included contracting a Trypanosoma infection at just three months old, which led to a temporary loss of vision. Although his sight was restored within a month, the zoo took preventive measures by inoculating all four tigers—Rudra, Shakti, Karishma, and Jay—with a Trypanosoma vaccine.
Over the next two years, Rudra battled infectious diseases twice, each recovery leaving him weaker. Zoo veterinary staff hand-raised him because his frail health prevented him from receiving adequate maternal milk. "His low immunity made him prone to regular infections, and his blindness problem resurfaced," the official added. A blood test in October showed parasitic remains still present in his bloodstream. Under constant veterinary care, Rudra died just days before what would have been his first birthday.
The zoo's tiger family, which had become a major attraction following the penguins, is now reduced to two surviving members: Karishma and Jay. Shakti and Karishma were originally brought to Byculla Zoo from the Sambhaji Nagar zoo in Maharashtra under an animal exchange program when they were four and three years old, respectively. Two years later, they welcomed cubs Jay and Rudra.
