Mumbai: Here's how Shakti, the SGNP cub, went from strength to strength

After seven months of being monitored diligently, the sole surviving tiger cub at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is now in excellent health, showcasing the successful outcome of the park's officials, veterinary officer and animal keepers' collective efforts. The female cub, Shakti, was born on March 25.

Dr Nikhil Bangar and the SGNP team that nursed the cub to health

Talking about the challenges in raising the cub, the veterinary officer at SGNP, Dr Nikhil Bangar, said, "Raising a big cat cub by hand-rearing presents numerous challenges. There are various essential components involved in this process, including understanding the need for hand-rearing, exploring alternatives, considering biological behaviours, providing initial care and stabilisation, conducting physical examinations, implementing nursing procedures, addressing common health issues, emphasising record-keeping and adhering to strict schedules. In this particular case, the challenge was intensified due to the cub's fragile condition when admitted to the hospital."

Recovery process

Shakti was weak and underweight, requiring almost two weeks to stabilise. "She suffered from feeding syndrome, which necessitated the introduction of milk replacer and supplements such as multivitamins and calcium. A dedicated team of staff followed a strict schedule to ensure the cub's well-being. As Shakti grew, the transition from a liquid to a solid diet was another challenging step in the process. This involved addressing the cub's various needs and behaviours, a journey that demanded significant effort and experimentation. Currently, Shakti is eating solid food, mainly meat, once a day, with the quantity tailored to her weight. She is healthy and steadily gaining weight," added Dr Bangar.

Shakti, the seven-month-old cub. Pic/SGNP

On the instructions of SGNP Field Director and Conservator of Forest G Mallikarjun, six dedicated hospital staff members, including the veterinary officer, were involved in the care of the cub and showed unwavering dedication and sacrificed their family time over the past seven months to treat the feline. The team members are Dr Bangar and cub-rearing experts Deepak Tokare, Sanjay Barap, Mayur Zirve, Vikas Shanvar and Prashant Tokre.

Daily routine

As a part of the daily routine, the cub is being released into an open, enriched and naturally mimicked enclosure in the morning. There, she has the opportunity to explore and engage in her natural behaviours. In the evening, she is fed meat and bones and all necessary medicines required for her age. After her meal, she is placed in her night enclosure. The veterinary official also told mid-day that as per the cub's weight, her growth is proceeding at a normal rate and she currently weighs 24 kg. Shakti's progress is being carefully monitored to ensure her continued well-being and development.

Fate of siblings

The female offspring of Srivalli and Bajirao, along with three siblings, was born in captivity at SGNP. Her siblings, the first cubs to be born at the facility after a gap of 13 years, unfortunately, perished over a few days. The captive tiger and lion safari at SGNP commenced in the 1990s and has since become a popular tourist attraction.

24 kg
Shakti's weight

Six
No of staff involved in the project