Mysore Karishma rejects Malayali Rajah

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Discord and hostility between mates are not the exclusive domain of human beings. A six-year-old tigress, Karishma, a gift from the Mysore zoo to Thiruvananthapuram, is yet to accept the 11-year-old`Malayali'' tiger, Rajah. Both are now tentatively let in the open enclosure from the hitherto stuffy cage.
The two have been housed in the nearby cages for familiarisation and friendship.But they did not take to each other easily. The two would snarl and growl at each other when they came face-to-face. But the frequency of expressing displeasure diminished eventually, though not altogether. Encouraged, the zoo authorities put the mates together in the open enclosure after three months of experimental neighbourly living.
But the first day of the living together was not promising. The duo fought each other and the animal keepers rushed to separate them. But again, the big cats having no wide choice of mates as humans have, the zoo officials continued with the experiment of putting them together, and now have nearly won, as the two roam about the open enclosure with only occasional snarl and no fight.
The experience also breaks a myth that animals have no kinship feelings. Strangely, recalls Zoo Director C.S. Yalaki, Rajah, and Rani, a female tiger of the zoo were born of the same litter, their mother being same. The duo has not been mating. Hence the search was made for mates. Consequently, Bharat and Karishma were brought for Rajah and Rani.
The Thiruvananthapuram zoo has begun open enclosure for as many animals as possible for a couple of years. Lion-tailed macaque, certain types of langurs, tigers, hippos are some of them enjoying a more natural habitat than the narrow cages.
The zoo today has five tigers. Of them two are females and three males. One is solitary and ageing. Surprisingly, the other pair, Bharat, who was also brought from Mysore zoo, gets along well with 11-year-old Rani, the `Thiruvananthapuram girl''. The two have less domestic discord between them.