The Tiger’s Valentine

No this isn’t about pseudo-tigers like Shiv Sena  or even the LTTE. It is about a real tigers, that have stripes, roar, and er, mate.

Zoo authorities in Jamshedpur are looking for a suitable match for a 9 year-old tigress.

Authorities at the Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur are desperately looking for a match for nine-year-old Shanti, a tigress.  The zoo authorities are concerned as Ben and Shyamali, the parents of Shanti have grown old and are unable to breed any more. Mating Shanti is the only option left to increase the population of tigers in the zoo.

[…]

According to zoo authorities, they tried to ensure the mating of Ben and Shyamali last year on Valentine’s Day but the attempt failed as the tigress ferociously attacked her mate, injuring him.

You really can’t fault the zoo authorities for trying make the tigress’ Valentine’s day a bit special. But then they should have understood that the female species – whether tigers or homo sapiens, really don’t care for love, unless it comes wrapped as an expensive gift.

And yet, there is no guarantee…