Hyderabad: Royal Bengal Tiger Sakhi’s brother Nikhil is critical and fighting for life at the Nehru Zoological Park. Nikhil is suffering from Broncho pneumonia and is currently put on medication. Sakhi was killed in October 2000 by a poacher, Mohammed Salahuddin.
Eighteen-year-old Nikhil is becoming weak day by day. He is suffering from broncho pneumonia for the past two months. Nikhil is on intensive care under the supervision of veterinary experts and Dr M. Navin Kumar, the zoo consultant at Nehru Zoological Park. Nikhil is not consuming the feed properly due to his critical condition.Nikhil, born on October 10, 1999 at Hyderabad Zoo, is developing old- age problems as the maximum lifespan of a tiger is only 20 years. According to zoo officials, the condition of Nikhil is critical and chances are that his condition would worsen.
M Hakim, doctor at Nehru Zoological Park, said, ‘’Nikhil is ill as he is developing old-age complications and not responding to the treatment. It is not consuming the feed properly. His condition is static and he is kept under observation. We are trying our level best to revive his health and increase his lifespan. We are giving him Vitamin A and D in the daily feed and merbomec for five days for improvement in health.’’
The city police arrested Salahuddin in 2005 for killing the Royal Bengal tigress Sakhi and skinning her at the Nehru Zoological Park. Salahuddin escaped from the Cherlapally prison the following year, but he got bail after he was arrested again in 2011.
