Tigers at Bannerghatta Biological Park die due to unknown virus, officials mum

BENGALURU: A series of tiger deaths have occurred in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) in the past few days. Tigers, a popular attraction at the BBP, have died as a result of an unknown virus. Three-year-old Kiran, five-year-old Shiva, and another tiger are dead while Mithun is on the verge of death.

Shiva, a 5-year-old tiger, died of an unknown virus.

The staff of the park and the forest department officials seem unconcerned about the fact that three tigers have died in the past three to four months at the Bannerghatta Biological Park. Once home to the highest number of tigers, where more than 35 tigers lived , the BBP now has only 14.

Across the country, more than 1,000 tigers died last year, while more than 800 were hunted and killed. Hundreds of tigers died in national parks due to health problems last year. More than 150 tigers died in Karnataka alone last year.

The BBP staff treating a tiger affected by a viral disease.

Whle Bannerghatta Biological Park was had the distinction of being one of the best places for tiger conservation, surprisingly, officials are not willing to discuss the recent deaths. All the tiger barracks have been sanitised since the tigers’ deaths, but the string of tiger deaths remain a mystery. Animal lovers have demanded that all the existing 14 tigers should be fully tested.