On May 8, 2023, the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam, India announced the sad news of the passing of one of its beloved residents, a white tiger named Kumari. Kumari was 19 years old at the time of her death and had been a part of the zoo community since 2007, when she was brought in from the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad.
Kumari was born in 2004 and had spent 16 years of her life at the Visakhapatnam Zoo, where she had given birth to nine white tiger cubs. She was a much-loved member of the zoo community and was admired by visitors and staff alike for her gentle nature and motherly instincts.
The postmortem report submitted by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park identified Multi-Organ failure caused by senility as the cause of Kumari’s death. Despite her age, Kumari had been under the excellent care of the zoo staff, which allowed her to live well beyond the average lifespan of tigers in the wild.
The passing of Kumari has left a deep void in the hearts of everyone at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, and her memory will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her. The zoo officials have expressed their condolences and have promised to continue providing the best possible care for all of their animal residents.
Kumari’s passing is a reminder of the importance of preserving and protecting endangered species such as the white tiger, and of the critical role that zoos play in their conservation efforts. Her legacy as a beloved and much-admired member of the Visakhapatnam Zoo community will not be forgotten.