Malar to get new love this Onam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This Onam, Malar, the lone female white tiger of the Thiruvanantha-puram city zoo will get a mate named Sravan as a part of an exchange programme with the Delhi zoo.

Malar is seven years old while Sravan is below two years and they are expected to provide the zoo with valuable progenies.

“If a Bengal tiger mates with a white tiger, they would only give birth to a Bengal tiger. So this comes as a significant exchange and the tiger is expected in the city on 25th,” zoo veterinarian Dr Jacob Alexander said.

Malar, who also came from Delhi zoo, was of the same age of Vijay, the infamous tiger who mauled to death a man who fell into its enclosure last year. Sravan on the other hand, as a cub, has recently survived even after being abandoned by his mother after birth.

However, in exchange for the pricey tiger, the zoo will have to give away several other animals. As a part of the pact, the city zoo will have to give one pair each of spectacled caiman, Rhea and brown fish owl and two pairs of brahminy kite, three pairs barn owl  and five bonnet macaques.

Though Delhi was also ready to give the antelope-like goral also, the Central Zoo Authority has shot down the move stating that the animal was not listed in the collection plan of city zoo master plan.