Agartala, May 23: In a landmark development for wildlife conservation in Tripura, the Sepahijala Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary has witnessed the birth of three tiger cubs—marking the first time in its 53-year history that such an event has occurred.
Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma visited the zoo on Friday to welcome the cubs and review their condition. Expressing his delight, the minister stated, “This is a moment of great pride for the state. The birth of tiger cubs in captivity signifies that the zoo now offers a healthy and congenial environment for its wildlife.”
He further added, “This development is not just a matter of joy, but also a promising sign for biodiversity and ecological balance,” Debbarma said, while lauding the zoo authorities for their dedicated efforts.
As part of precautionary measures, the male tiger has been relocated to a separate enclosure. Zoo officials have also installed a dozen CCTV cameras to ensure round-the-clock monitoring of the tigress and her cubs, while access to the enclosure has been restricted to avoid disturbances.
Director of Sepahijala Zoo, Biswajit Das, revealed that that the tiger pair, brought from West Bengal last year under an animal exchange programme, have adapted well to the zoo.
He said that the cubs were born on May 11 and that both the mother and her offspring are in good health. “Over the past years, the zoo has seen significant improvements in infrastructure and animal care. As a result, the number of animals has increased, and visitor footfall has doubled to nearly two lakh annually,” he said.
Das highlighted that the zoo recently recorded the birth of two rare clouded leopards, bringing the total to 10 such leopards at Sepahijala—more than half of India’s captive clouded leopard population.
Established in 1972, Sepahijala Zoo is emerging as one of the best small zoos in the country. The state government continues to work towards transforming it into a world-class hub for wildlife conservation and public awareness.
