Rawalpindi’s Ayub National Park welcomes twin Bengal tiger cubs
Felix and Julia have become instant hit with kids
Islamabad: Felix and Julia, two newly-born Bengal tiger cubs, had their first public encounter recently at the Rawalpindi’s Ayub National Park.
After formal unveiling, they have become an instant focus of kids’ attention.
With addition of the two cubs, the park now has a total of five tigers - Felix, Julia, their parents Rawal and Rawail, and a female tiger, Hazeil.
Besides tigers, there is also a white lion pair, a Puma and a lioness.
Born on December 26, Felix and Julia are doing well, and are purely on mother’s milk.
Their weight is 6-8 kg and they have been administered the first vaccine a day earlier while they will receive their second dose on February 22, said the park’s vet Dr Basit Rasheed.
With their arrival, Ayub National Park has become the only facility in the country with such a large number of wild cats species, he said.
He said there were only 3,500 Bengal tigers in the world, and of that number five are at the Ayub National Park.
Separate area for wild animals
A separate area has been dedicated to keep the wild animals in the 50-acre park and this has been named Jungle World.
According to Director of the Jungle World, Lt Col (R) Mohsin Khan, the wild animals are provided an environment that is close to their natural habitat.
“We are maintaining the temperature of their enclosure,” said Col Mohsin.
Dr Basit said after the birth of the cubs they had increased the food quantity of the mother, Rawail, from 8kg to 12kg, to correspond with nutritious needs of the kids.
“Meanwhile, we have put their father Rawal in a separate enclosure to minimise the risk element,” he said.
Brazilian descent
The cubs are the 10th in the line of a tiger pair imported back in 2008, said Dr Basit.
We have not crossed any other species and it is a pure line continuing since then, he added.
Being an off-day, one could see a large number of families, particularly children flocking to these wild animals, especially the cubs’ enclosure and taking pictures.
According to the park officials, 2,500-3,000 visitors are expected to see Felix and Julia daily.