Rangers using toys to save tiger cubs
Print Edition
PARK rangers in India are using a cuddly toy tigress to help three traumatized cubs spring back to their feet after the death of their mother.
The cubs, who were orphaned last month, have been happily feeding from milk bottles fitted inside the toy, said the field director at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.
“We tried to give them goats’ milk initially but they didn’t like the human interaction. They just refused to take the bottle from our staff,” Mridul Pathak said.
“Now they have been feeding from the synthetic nipples attached to the dummy for six days. Their energy levels increased from the first feed.”
Forest rangers have also built a special enclosure for the cubs inside their compound, using twigs, grass and sand to mimic their natural habitat, he said.
“We even rubbed the feces of the mother on the toy tiger and grass to recreate the feeling of being close to their real mom.”
The cubs were found in a critical condition not long after the body of their mother was discovered near a river in January.
It is believed the mother was killed after brushing against an electric fence erected by cattle farmers, Pathak said. An investigation is under way.
Rangers quickly treated the cubs for dehydration and rushed them back to the enclosure.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
