Although Anand and Yash — the captive tigers from Borivli's Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) — have found their mating pairs in Mastani and Bijli, the tigresses brought from Pench in July last year, forest officials say that both male tigers may have to wait longer to mate as the tigresses have been found to be 'too aggressive' for them.
SGNP sources informed that despite the fact that both tigresses, that were raised in a barricaded enclosure at Pench, have now spent over seven months at SGNP,forest officials are afraid they might attack and injure the males.
In fact, both tigresses are still not accustomed to human presence. This is also a reason why tourists have not been able to catch a glimpse of Mastani and Bijli as both of them have not been released in the safari area for tourists to catch a glimpse of them from the buses. "While a few forest officials wanted the tigresses to be released in the safari area and even be allowed with the males in a secondary cage, other forest officials advised against it," said a source.
Speaking to DNA, Dr Shailesh Pethe, veterinary officer, SGNP said: "It is true that the tigresses are aggressive, but they will be allowed to mate, and will also be released into the safari area. But, we are taking precautions". He added that the tigresses are being given more time to acclimatise to the surroundings. "One has to keep in mind that while the other animals at SGNP were either raised in this park, or brought in from other zoos, where contact with humans was the norm. These tigresses were brought up in a barricaded enclosure with hardly any human contact," said Pethe.
Forest officials have kept the tigresses close to their mates in adjacent cages. "We want both pairs to get comfortable with each other," said Shailesh Deore, superintendent, Lion and Tiger Safari, adding that they were hopeful that tourists will not only get to see both tigresses in the safari area, but would also enjoy spotting cubs in the future, too.
FAMILY CHART OF PARK TIGERS
Palash: Male, 13 years old
Basanti: Female, 13 years old
Laxmi: Female, 6 years old
Mastani: Female, 8 years old
Bijli: Female, 8 years old
Anand: Male, 6 years old
Yash: Male, 8 years old
White tiger
Bajirao: Male, 17 years old
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