Baranga, 30th Aug 2025: Sad news from Nandankanan Zoological Park. A white tiger cub born from an albino pair died on Saturday morning. With this death, the number of white tigers at Nandankanan has decreased to five.
The white tigress Mousumi had been paired with a normal-colored male tiger Rajesh. On June 7, Mousumi gave birth to two cubs (one albino, one normal-colored). The albino cub was underweight (650 grams) and weak from birth. Despite Mousumi taking care of both cubs for three days, she later rejected the albino cub.
The veterinary team, under close supervision, took the two cubs from their mother and brought them to a neonatal care center. While the normal cub remained healthy, the albino cub continued to be weak. The cub received care in an incubator and under medical observation.
After approximately 77 days of treatment at the care center, the albino cub died on Saturday morning. The cause of death is under investigation, and samples have been sent for laboratory analysis. The final report will reveal the exact reason for the cub’s death.
The death of this albino cub has hindered efforts to increase the white tiger population at Nandankanan Zoo.