Tiger, considered to be country's oldest in captivity, dies in Indore zoo

The aging Royal Bengal Tiger at the Kalma Nehru zoo, Bihari, died at around 4 pm on Monday. The tiger was 23 years and 8 months old and that makes it the oldest tiger in the country to survive in captivity, said the zoo incharge Dr Uttam Yadav.

The aging Royal Bengal Tiger at the Kalma Nehru zoo, Bihari, died at around 4 pm on Monday. The tiger was 23 years and 8 months old and that makes it the oldest tiger in the country to survive in captivity, said the zoo incharge Dr Uttam Yadav. In the wild tigers generally survive for around 15 years.

Carcass-of-the-tiger-Bihari-at-Kalma-Nehru-Zoo-in-Indore-on-Monday-Arun-Mondhe-HT-photo

Bihari died of old age-related complications. He had stopped eating a day before Sunday, but was moving around in his enclosure in the morning before he breathe his last in the afternoon.

"Bihari was not suffering from any illness but the organs of aged tigers just stop functioning and they die," Dr Yadav said. The post mortem revealed that Bihari had cirrhosis and also chest congestion, but these are normal in an ageing tiger.

With Bihari's death, the Indore zoo now has nine tigers left, of which three are males and six females. Bihari's death comes exactly 35 days after the death of a two-year-old white tiger, Rajan, who succumbed to snake bite inside his cage.