Shiva, the male tiger captured from Chikkabargi forests in Bandipur Tiger Reserve after it killed three persons, is likely to be retained at the Mysore zoo for captive breeding.
Zoo executive director B.P. Ravi told The Hindu, “We have decided to use the wild tiger, which has recovered from injuries, for breeding. It will be shifted to the Animal Rescue Centre coming up at Koorgalli on the outskirts of Mysore.”
He said a formal permission would be sought from the Forest Department for the purpose.
It has been almost one and a half months since the tiger was shifted to the zoo. It is housed at a special enclosure in the zoo hospital and monitored by veterinarians.
No display
However, it is unlikely that Shiva will be displayed at the zoo. There were speculations that the tiger may be shifted to the Animal Rescue Centre in Bannerghatta near Bangalore as the zoo here does not have such a centre. But, with the Central Zoo Authority clearing an Animal Rescue Centre for Mysore zoo recently, the management is considering retaining the animal.
Usually, the captured/rescued wild tigers are retained in the zoos for reasons such as old age, their incapability to survive in the wild because of injuries and human imprints.
Another reason for keeping wild tigers at the zoos was to introduce new bloodline, while taking up captive breeding of tigers.
At Mysore zoo, captive breeding of tigers was stepped up after the arrival of wild tigers, particularly Brahma, a strong and big male.
