Chittagong Zoo is celebrating the birth of three Bengal tiger cubs.
The three cubs were born to Bengal tigers Raj and Pori, a couple aged 30 and 28 months respectively.
Dr Shahadat Hossain Suvo, Chittagong Zoo's acting curator and veterinary surgeon confirmed the matter to Bangla Tribune.
"The three cubs were born on Wednesday (July 18) noon. They are now doing fine and the mother is suckling its cubs," said Dr Suvo.
The acting curator of the zoo, “The newborn cubs will be kept out of the sight of visitors until they develop their eyes. It takes about two weeks for tiger cubs' eyes to develop completely. It will not be possible to determine the sex of the cubs until a few more weeks. Also, the first few weeks are a critical period for the cubs and any human contact during this early period is risky."
"If human beings are exposed to the cubs now, the mother could reject the cubs as they might acquire some human scent. The mother might then stop caring for her cubs and without a mother's care at this stage; the cubs are unlikely to survive," explained Dr Suvo.
Chittagong Zoo authorities collected the tiger couple from South Africa at a cost of Tk 33 lakh in total on December 9, 2016.
With the arrival of three new guests, the number of the Bengal tiger now stands at five in total.
Set up on February 28, 1989, the zoo is located in a six-acre of hilly terrain in the city’s Foy’s Lake area.
Run by Chittagong district administration, the zoo now houses more than 360 animals of 67 species. Of them, 34 species are of birds while the rest species are of reptiles and other mammals.