Mumbai: SGNP wildlife richer by two tigers

Both big cats had been captured amid conflict situations. Representation pic

Wildlife enthusiasts are in for a treat as Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) - which recently obtained a pair of lions - is now home to a male and female tiger from Nagpur's Gorewada Zoo. Thanks to the newly inaugurated Nagpur-Shirdi stretch of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway, SGNP authorities saved over 16 hours while bringing the big cats to the city.

Dr Clement Ben, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), Western Wildlife Region, Mumbai, and SGNP Director G Mallikarjun played a crucial role in obtaining the pair, which is capable of breeding, as they have been consistently following up on the same with the Nagpur PCCF's office and Gorewada Zoo authorities. Superintendent of Tiger and Lion Safaris and Range Forest Officer (RFO) Vijay Barabde along with his team also went to Nagpur to bring the tigers.

Also Read: Mumbai: SGNP gets India's first taxidermy centre

Barabde said, "We started our journey with the tigers from Gorewada Zoo on Wednesday afternoon and reached SGNP on Thursday. Earlier, we used to take 35 to 37 hours to reach Mumbai from Nagpur via road, as we used to take halts so that animals did not get exhausted. However, this time we took the Samruddhi Expressway, which saved more than 16 hours." Barabde also said that both tigers have been kept in isolation at SGNP so that they get used to their new environment.

The female, P-1, was rescued on January 1 near Nagbhid in the Brahmapuri forest division. She was later shifted to Gorewada Zoo. The male, which is about 3 years old, was rescued on December 28 at Chandrapur forest division and it was also shifted to the zoo. Both had been captured amid conflict situations.