Bhubaneswar, June 27: Officials at Nandankanan Zoological Park, located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar city, announced the passing of an 18-year-old tigress named Sara on Thursday.

In a statement, officials expressed deep sorrow over Sara's demise, describing her as a beloved member of the Nandankanan family.

Sara's journey began when she was rescued from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh at the age of five months on October 18, 2006. She was initially raised at Van Vihar Zoological Park in Bhopal before joining Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar on April 18, 2006, through an animal exchange program.

Sara played a crucial role in the park's conservation breeding efforts, contributing to the genetic diversity by giving birth to cubs Asha, Ankita, and Subhashree on January 13, 2012, fathered by the tiger Rishi. Asha was later relocated to Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad under a separate animal exchange initiative.

In recent months, Sara's health had declined, marked by periods of lethargy, difficulty standing, and labored breathing observed from February 29, 2024. Despite receiving treatment including antibiotics and supportive care, Sara showed signs of improvement briefly, accepting food on March 3, 2024, before being confined to a restricted area for her care.

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