NRI D’Souza adopts tiger cubs in Pilikula

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangauru, June 03, 2016: Director of Pilikula Biological Park H Jayaprakash Bhandary told media on June 2, Thursday,  that four cubs of Netravathy, the Royal Bengal Tigress, born about two months ago, have been adopted by an Abu Dhabi-based businessman Michael D’Souza.  He has paid an adoption amount of Rs 5,00,000 for the maintenance of the cubs.

As announced earlier, the adopter/donor has the option to name the cubs and D’Souza has named the four cubs as Amar, Akbar, and Antony and the female as Nesha, informed Bhandary. The cubs were born to 9-year-old Netravathy and 14-year-old Vikram.

Meanwhile, another tiger Kumar born in Pilikula Biological Park has been adopted by Prashanth Shet, the proprietor of S L Shet Jewellers and M/s Navaratna Group of Hotels, Mangaluru, who has paid a sum of Rs 2,00,000 towards the maintenance of the tiger.

Bhandary also informed that DK DC  Adoor B Ibrahim has been taking keen interest in maintenance of the zoo, which has no government budget for the maintenance.

Note :    Netravathy was born in  captivity in the park about nine years ago and has earlier given birth to two cubs - Akshay and Manju - in 2014 and one cub - Krishna - in 2011, which was adopted by the then Minister J Krishna Palemar. Later it was given to Surat Zoo under an animal exchange programme.