Cats gone wild

For lovers of the big cat, there is bad news. The maneater of UP, which has been on the prowl for more than a month, has struck again, for the eighth time. Officials declared the tigress a maneater after it strayed into human habitation. Six shooters have been deployed and baits have also been placed. However, the tigress continues to evade such traps by hiding in sugarcane fields. In more bad news, Machli, Ranthambore’s pride and the world’s most photographed striped cat, has been missing since January 9. Although, her pug marks were sighted two days ago, there is growing concern for her safety. Machli, also the world’s longest living tiger in the wild, is the subject of legendary stories including her fight with a 14-feet crocodile. If the state of tigresses in the wild seems worrying, the ones in captivity aren’t faring any better. The Delhi Zoo recently celebrated the birth of six white tiger cubs. Thanks to a negligent mother, five of them have died. The fate of the sixth one remains uncertain as Tiger-mom refuses to feed it. The zoo officials however, have found an unlikely replacement – a pregnant female dog.

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