Kanha’s popular tigress ‘DJ’ delivers 5 cubs; fourth litter

 

 

Tigress T-27 of Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh brought laurels to the park by delivering five cubs. This is her fourth litter and all are looking healthy.

For the first time tigress was spotted with cubs on Saturday in Mukki zone of the reserve in Mandla district. The reserve Field Director, S K Singh informed that the tigress is about nine years old and she has delivered cub in November 2022. He said that for the first time feline was sighted with cubs on Saturday and the cubs were around three months old. The tigress is popular among tourist as DJ (Dhawajhandi Female) and people are excited to click the glimpse of feline with cubs. Mukki zone of the reserve has been very famous for the last few seasons as there are big males and females.

Famous tigers of this zone are Matriach CM (Choti Mada), Dhawajhandi female, Mv3 and Tedhi Pooch.

Director said that DJ is the star female of Mukki Zone. She was not being sighted after reopening of park (October 1). Management was also worried about her presence as she was most sighted feline for all guide, drivers and other local officials. He said that on October 14, 2022, DJ was sighted marking the territory in her favourite area and at that time, doctors suspected that she had delivered. Experts suspected at the time that tigress was missing for the reason only. But cubs were not being sighted. On December 12, 2022, DJ was sighted with five tiny cubs (around two months) near Babathenga but no one could click the pictures or videos. The last record of female with five cubs was about 15 years back when a female Indri delivered five cubs. According to all India tiger estimation report 2018, Madhya Pradesh has 526 tigers, highest in any state of the country. Tiger census 2022 has been also completed but result for the same is yet to be released. Recently, the reserve has launched tiger safari that has attracted large number of tourist this season.