Tigress Jayashree Delivers Triplets At Nandankanan Zoo; Only One Cub Survives
Cubs are not included in the enclosure strength until they are formally counted, according to zoo records.
Bhubaneswar: A three-year-old tigress, Jayashree, delivered three cubs at Nandankanan Zoological Park here on Saturday, but only one has survived, zoo authorities said on Sunday. The birth marks Jayashree’s first litter and follows a gestation period of 101 days. The tigress had mated with normal-coloured tiger Amit, with mating recorded between September 15 and 17, 2025. Zoo officials said Jayashree appeared to lack adequate maternal instinct, a factor that affected the survival of the cubs.
The first cub was born at 11.55 am. As the tigress failed to attend to the newborn, zoo staff intervened and immediately shifted the cub to the Neonatal Care Unit, where it was placed under close veterinary observation.
The second cub was delivered at around 3.34 pm but was extremely weak at birth. During movement inside the enclosure, the tigress accidentally rolled over the cub, causing severe injuries. Despite prompt separation, the cub succumbed to the injuries and died on the spot. The third cub was born at 4.55 pm. Soon after delivery, the tigress consumed the cub, officials confirmed.
The surviving cub is currently under continuous monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit of the Zoo Hospital, with veterinarians closely tracking its health and development. With this birth, the total tiger population at Nandankanan Zoological Park stands at 29, comprising 18 males and 11 females. Cubs are not included in the enclosure strength until they are formally counted, according to zoo records.