Bangladesh zoo welcomes tiger cubs

DHAKA－Bangladesh National Zoo has announced the births of two Bengal tiger cubs, marking a good start to the Year of the Tiger for Bangladeshi big cat fans.

Md Abdul Latif, director of the Bangladesh National Zoo in the capital Dhaka, conveyed his wishes for the new year as he announced the births of the cubs on Saturday.

"May the Year of the Tiger bring the Chinese people endless happiness, peace and prosperity," Latif said.

The Bengal tiger is native to the Sundarbans, one of the world's largest mangrove forests and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sundarbans' tigers have bold, sharp features and are regarded as the best swimmers among the species.

The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh. Even the Bangladeshi cricket team is popularly known as "The Tigers".

The cubs are now almost 4 months old, and still reliant on their mother's milk. The births had been kept secret for some time to deter a huge surge of visitors to the zoo during the pandemic.

Keepers are now caring for the cubs－which have yet to be given names－and their mother Sheuli. They will be presented to the public when they start eating meat at 5 or 6 months old.

The zoo is sparing no effort to keep the cubs healthy. Keepers who enter the cage do so through a foot-bath. The cage itself has been swathed in layers of mosquito net and is sterilized twice a day. All of Sheuli's food is specially prepared to ensure viruses cannot be passed to the cubs through her milk.

Latif has also called for joint efforts by China and Bangladesh to create safe havens for tigers, which represent strength, vitality and bravery in both countries. He also stressed the need for exchanges, especially in animal disease diagnosis and treatment methods.

Xinhua