Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, popularly known as Byculla Zoo, is mourning the loss of one of its most majestic residents. Shakti, a nine-year-old male Royal Bengal tiger, passed away on Monday after battling pneumonia.
The Final Days and Medical Treatment
The zoo authorities confirmed that Shakti had been under intensive medical care after showing symptoms of respiratory distress. The tiger was receiving treatment for pneumonia, a serious respiratory condition that can be particularly challenging to manage in large carnivores.
Despite the best efforts of the veterinary team, the animal's condition continued to deteriorate. Shakti died on Monday morning, leaving zoo staff and regular visitors heartbroken. The tiger had been a resident of the zoo for several years and was among the most popular attractions for visitors, especially children.
Shakti's Life at Byculla Zoo
At nine years old, Shakti was in what should have been the prime of his life for a Royal Bengal tiger. These magnificent creatures typically have a lifespan of 10-15 years in captivity, making his death at age 9 particularly tragic.
The Byculla Zoo has been working to upgrade its facilities in recent years, with the tiger enclosure being part of its ongoing renovation projects. The zoo, which is one of Mumbai's oldest public parks, houses various species and has been focusing on improving animal welfare standards.
Royal Bengal tigers are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with only around 2,500-3,000 remaining in the wild. Each individual in captivity plays a role in conservation education and potentially in breeding programs.
Broader Implications for Zoo Management
This incident raises questions about the health monitoring and medical facilities available for large carnivores in Indian zoos. Pneumonia in big cats can result from various causes including bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, and requires prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment.
Zoo authorities have not released specific details about the exact type of pneumonia that affected Shakti or how long he had been ill. The death underscores the challenges faced by zoo veterinarians in detecting and treating illnesses in animals that often hide symptoms until conditions become severe.
The loss is significant for Mumbai's wildlife conservation efforts and educational programs. Big cats like Shakti serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts, helping to raise awareness about conservation challenges facing tiger populations across India.
Byculla Zoo officials are expected to conduct a thorough review of the circumstances leading to Shakti's death and may implement additional health monitoring protocols for their remaining big cat population.
