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Pilikula Biological Park loses its pride to age related illness

Published On : 23 May 2015


Mangaluru (TNN): The Pilikula Biological Park at Vamanjoor on the outskirts of the city suffered a major setback when it lost Raja, an adult Tiger to age-related illness in the early hours on Friday. Having made Pilikula his home since 2003 when he was brought here from the Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari in Shivamogga district, the 280-kg heavy big cat was the cynosure of all eyes at the Park with his majestic and almost measured gait.

If the majestic persona of Raja endeared him to his caretakers and others at the biological park, it was this same Raja who accounted for the lives of Kushalappa, his caretaker around 30-months back. Having sunk in to age-related complications, Raja's mood swings also accounted for Bunty, the sprightly Tigress on the Park when he attacked her fatally during a mating orgy. This orgy was one of his rare forays with female tigers there.

Reflecting on the death of Raja, H Jayaprakash Bhandary, director of the Biological Park recalled the instance when he had gone over personally to Tyavarekoppa to bring Raja to the Biological Park here. "Raja ever since fatally mauling Kushalappa was not his usual self and gradually on the decline," the director told TOI. Infact, Kushalappa had ventured in to the cage to see if Raja had taken the medicines given to him for the illness, he noted.

Having reduced his food intake for past several months, Raja was not his active self, Bhandary noted, adding that the cat had lost weight as well. The longest that big cats are known to survive in the wild is 10-12-years, and 18-years in captivity, Bhandary opined, adding that Raja have belied the natural life chart for these cats on both counts. The Park is now left with seven tigers including Nethravathi, the lone female, he noted.

A post-mortem on Raja revealed that it had suffered a heart attack, Bhandary said. "We have video graphed the entire process and cremated the carcass as per norms of the Central Zoo Authority to prevent trophy hunters from stealing away the parts," the official said. However, on the brighter side, Raja's loss could soon be made up for Nethravathi is on the 'family way', Bhandary said, noting that she could deliver within the next few months.


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