Nagpur’s Maharajabagh zoo celebrates birthday of three tigers

NAGPUR - The birthday of three tigers was celebrated at the Maharajabagh zoo here.

These striped feline beauties, bubbling with energy, were rescued from the wild, a year ago.

To hail the birthday, scores of animal lovers and other visitors, the children in particular thronged the zoo with utmost enthusiasm and participated in the celebrations.

On being rescued from the jungles and brought to the zoo on January 23, 2009, the lively cubs were named Cherry, Jan and Lee.

They have been nurtured with utmost care on a healthy diet of chicken soup and meat.

Wildlife Activist Kundan Hatey said, “We had found three cubs from the jungle last year and these were rescued by the Forest Rangers and since then they have been living here. We are celebrating this day, as they have completed one whole year in this zoo.”

“This is a success that we had saved three dying cubs in the wild and now they are in a healthy state. I think this is for the first time that the birthday of a wild cub is being celebrated,” added Hatey.

A special cake with the image of a poacher was cut to send across the message ‘preserve the wildlife by cutting to size the clan of poachers.’

Maharajabagh Zoological Gardens Veterinarian Dr Baviskar said, “By celebrating the birthday of these three cubs and cutting a cake depicting a poacher, we want to convey the message that every animal has an identification and dignity of its own.”

“So, to maintain the dignity of these animals people should stop poaching,” he added.

The children cut the cake and sang birthday songs as the trio of Cherry, Jan and Lee relished the feast of fresh and soft broiler chicken served to them.

The cubs appeared happy literally frolicking on the lawns of their enclosure. (ANI)