Delay in getting a male white tiger from Chhattisgarh's Bhilai zoo for breeding with white tigresses at Kamla Nehru zoo here is hindering efforts of authorities towards multiplying the endangered species.
"At present, we have five endangered white tigers, but all of them are female. Under the animal exchange programme, we have demanded a white male tiger from the Bhilai Zoo in 2011 but our demand has not been met," Zoo In-charge Dr Uttam Yadav told PTI.
He said the delay was hampering their efforts to increase the number of white tigers.
Yadav said despite approval from the authorities concerned here to exchange two hippos for a male white tiger from Bhilai, there demand is not met.
In 2008, a pair of white tigers named Shyamu and Seeta were brought to Indore. Following which, Seeta had given birth to three female cubs. However, after the death of Shyamu, the only male white tiger, in 2010 the number of white tigers has remained static.
Yadav claimed that letters were sent to Central Zoo Authorities (CZA) in this regard but to no avail.
He said the authorities have also demanded a royal Bengal tiger from Bhopal's Van Vihar for breeding with white tigresses but no decision was taken on the issue.
