Last week, when three newborn tiger cubs died at Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri, West Bengal, after their mother accidentally bit them on their necks while trying to shift them to the night shelter by grabbing them in her mouth, many wondered how and why it happened.
Experts, however, believe that stress and inexperience of Rika, the mother tiger, might have led to the tragic episode.
“Such incidents are tragic. In captivity, such incidents happen sometimes. There are many choices in the wild. In captivity, the area is limited and often the mother is stressed,” Sourav Choudhury, member secretary, West Bengal Zoo Authority, told The Indian Express.
“Not all female tigers do this. It depends on the psychology of that particular animal. Rika is inexperienced and may be under stress,” Choudhury added. Rika, who according to zoo officials is now in mourning, had similarly injured her cubs last year. But since the cubs were a month old, they could be saved.
“Last year also, Rika gave birth to three cubs. She injured them while moving them. The cubs had deep wounds. Since they were one-month-old, they could be saved. This time, the cubs were just a couple of days old and their skins were soft,” said Choudhury.
On November 5, just days after Rika gave birth to three cubs, she tried to move them to the night shelter by grabbing them in her mouth.
It is supposed to be a “mock bite” (feigned or loose bite used either during play or carrying cubs). But, according to the officials at the Park, Rika’s teeth punctured the windpipe of the cubs, leading to their deaths.
“Such incidents are definitely more seen in captivity,” said M K V Ashraf, chief veterinary officer (Wildlife Trust of India). “While lifting the cubs it is expected to be a mock bite. But sometimes, accidentally excessive pressure is applied.”
Concurring with Choudhury, Ashraf said: “There must be some disturbance or stress, which caused Rika to behave like this (frequently shifting the cubs from one place to another).”
“There is no foolproof scientific method to gauge or stop this. However, in my experience I have seen such animal behaviour. While giving birth in captivity, there is stress and psychological pressure which the mother feels. Already physically drained, she could have felt that someone would harm her cubs and therefore decided to move them to the shelter,” said Assistant Director (Animal Resources Department, Jhargram) Chanchal Datta.
According to forest department officials, Rika’s current behaviour shows that she is mourning and is anxious as she could not find her cubs anymore.
“In my opinion one way to avoid this is to limit the space. Expecting female tigers should be kept in smaller dens, instead of large enclosures. This restricts their movement. They should be confined in small dark places,” Chief Veterinary Officer (Wildlife Trust of India) Ashraf said.
“We have released Rika in a large enclosure, and special care is being taken including giving her supplements and special diet,” E Vijaykumar, Director, Bengal Safari Park, told The Indian Express over the phone.
As per Datta, expecting female tigers should have no contact with humans.
“Zero contact with humans, even zoo keepers should be restricted from approaching the would-be mother. Food should be kept in a separate place when the animal is not there. Only surveillance through CCTV should be allowed,” Datta added.
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