There was good news for wildlife enthusiasts and the Assam State Zoo as the Royal Bengal tigress, Kazi, gave birth to two cubs recently.

With this the Zoo’s tiger population has reached nine.

In August 2020, Kazi gave birth to two cubs. The two were named Sultan and Suresh and are healthy cubs.

The two new cubs resting comfortably at their mother Royal Bengal Tigress Kazi’s lap at @assamzoo, Guwahati. @himantabiswa @CMOfficeAssam pic.twitter.com/LDxsfCr7SW

— Sashanka Chakraborty 🇮🇳 (@SashankGuw) February 8, 2022

Talking to the media, Dr Ashwini Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer of the Assam State Zoo said the mother and her two cubs were in good health and that the officials and zoo keepers are keeping a vigil and ensuring that all precautionary measures are taken to protect them. Heaters have been placed outside the cage to shield them from the biting cold while dry straw in adequate quantity has been placed inside the enclosure.

The mother is being provided with a diet which is nutritious. Sharing information on this, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Amit Sahai, said: “Around 6-7 kg of meat is being provided to the mother along with other veterinary prescribed food.”

Sahai added that the stress is on providing a hygienic environment to the animals in the zoo. "Focus is on hygiene and cleanliness in and around the enclosure so that the mother and her cubs are not afflicted with any disease.”

With two new members joining the Zoo, Sahai is hopeful that it will draw more visitors now.

The forest authorities have requested the Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya to suggest names for the newly born cubs. Suklabaidya has named several animals in the past which have become popular. 

Also read: Tigress ‘Collarwali’ who gave birth to 29 cubs passes away