They’re Trinis
By NALINEE SEELAL (Newsday).Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is of the firm view that the two rare Bengal white tigers born at the Emperor Valley Zoo on January 10, should remain in this country and not be given to any other zoo which may have made requests for the cubs.
The two cubs a male and female were born to their mother Rajasi and father Shere Khan after careful mating took place at the Zoo.
The cubs which are yet to be named now remain one of the major attractions at the Emperor Valley Zoo and when news of their birth was made known to zoos around the world interest was expressed by two South American countries in acquiring the cubs.
However, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who is especially fond of animals and children told Newsday yesterday “I think that since the animals were born in this country they should remain here and be enjoyed by persons in this country, but at the same time I am asking the Zoological Society and the persons in charge of the Emperor Valley Zoo to have some consultation on the matter before making a final decision.”
She said if she had her way she will be very happy to have the cubs remain in this country because after all they were born in this country.
She said based on information the Zoo has facilities to take care of the two cubs and this country has demonstrated that it is adhering to international practice of ensuring the safety and well-being of endangered species.
According to the Prime Minister it is a blessing and a sign of good luck that the cubs were actually born in this country and therefore that good luck should remain in Trinidad and she is hopeful that the Zoo will also have other significant births involving rare animals so that this country can showcase to the world that the Zoological Society can come up to scratch like other Zoological bodies in First World countries.
Newsday contacted curator of the Emperor Valley Zoo, Nirmal Biptah and informed him of the Prime Minister’s request to have the cubs remain at the Emperor Valley Zoo and he said, “if it is the wish of the Prime Minister then we will have to accede to her request.” On Friday the cubs were 40 days old and the male weighed 12 pounds and the female weighed 11 pounds. He said the public will be given the opportunity to see the two cubs and they are being taken out for public viewing every day but at specific times. Persons wishing to see the cubs can see them at 10. 30, am, 12,30, 1.30 and 4.30 every day.
He said they are still nursing rom their mother and they are playful. The mother and the cubs show no aggression towards their attendants.
Rajasi, the mother is an excellent mother and feeds them every two hours.
They will be separated when they become mature to avoid inter-breeding.
However, President of the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, Gupte Lutchmedial had a different take on the matter. Lutchmedial said that “ personally I would like to keep the cubs here because they were born here, we are spending a lot of time with them, bonding with them, but one needs to know that the welfare of the animals comes first and because of the conservation programme that are taken by zoos worldwide we were lucky to get a viable breeding pair after four years of waiting.” Lutchmedial said that there are other zoos waiting for young Bengal white tigers and to fulfill that obligation to other zoos will make good biological sense. He said that to keep the animals would mean bringing in two additional white Bengal tigers from different bloodlines to mate with the existing two.
“Keeping them in captivity is already bad enough and by further isolating them to live alone, to live a singular life without a mate is not in the best interest of the animal, nevertheless we have to look at the popular opinion of the stakeholders including the government which has given us a sizeable subvention. A decision will be made in the best interest of the animals.”
“I have heard that the PM would like to have the cubs remain here and that will be given the best consideration, but that means that we will have to extend our tiger collection by bringing in different mates for the two cubs.”
Newsday understands that two South American countries had first expressed interest in acquiring the cubs. The two South American countries Argentina and Colombia have been placed on a waiting list like the other countries which have expressed interest in acquiring the cubs.
Newsday understands that the birth of the cubs resulted in a record breaking number of over 300,000 visitors to the zoo in 2014. In 2013, the zoo attracted 225,000 persons.
Newsday also understands that the sale or exchange of the giant cats, will depend on the animal’s gender. In addition, he said, the zoo has to monitor its cat population.
At present, the giant cats consume 1,200 pounds of meat a week. The cat population includes three lions and two lionesses, several ocelots and the three Bengal tigers acquired nine months ago from South Africa.
President of the Zoological Society Gupte Lutchmedial said that although the zoo rears its own cattle and acquires meat from the horse-racing industry, with two more mouths to feed, it would be challenging.
Even Minister of Tourism Gerald Hadeed agrees with the Prime Minister the cubs should remain here. He has already visited the cubs at the Zoo and expressed interest in using the cubs to attract more visitors, even foreigners.
The birth of the two cubs brings the white Bengal tiger population now in captivity to 202. The zoo has two white Bengal tigers — a male and a female and a yellow female Bengal tigress. It is expected that the male tiger will also breed with the yellow tigress.
Newsday also understands that government has already pledged an allocation of $15 million for phase three of the zoo’s development which will include an animal hospital.
Phase two of the project, which includes accommodation for the African exhibits, is due for completion in March. It was also funded to the tune of $15 million. The zoo has plans to import during the “summer months” a black rhinoceros from the United States. Other animals expected are chimpanzees and meerekats to add to the African savannah exhibits. They are expected to co-exist with the giraffes.
POPULAR CUBS: The adorable white Bengal tiger cubs relax at the Emperor Valley Zoo yesterday.