Bhubaneswar, August 17: An eight-month-old male tiger cub died at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Odisha, leaving the zoo authorities concerned. The cub was being raised at the zoo’s rearing centre after being rejected by its mother.

The cub was born on December 27, 2025, to tiger Amit and tigress Jayshree. Three cubs were born in the litter, but two of them died. As Jayshree did not accept the surviving cub, zoo authorities separated it from the mother and shifted it to the rearing centre.

According to zoo authorities, the cub suddenly fell ill on the night of August 14 and started eating less. Its condition gradually deteriorated, with the cub becoming weak and developing a high body temperature.

Veterinary doctors examined the cub and collected samples for laboratory tests. It was treated with antibiotics, vitamins and saline, but its condition did not improve. The cub died suddenly on Sunday.

Following a post-mortem examination, samples were collected and sent for further testing to determine the exact cause of death. The cause will be confirmed after the reports are received.

With the death of the cub, the tiger population at Nandankanan has dropped to 26. The zoo currently has 17 normal-coloured tigers, including 10 males and seven females; five white tigers, comprising three males and two females; and four melanistic tigers, including three males and one female.