The tiger who understands Tamil

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The tiger who understands Tamil
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Udaipur - Rama, a white tiger, was born in Arignar Anna Zoological Park in 2011 in Tamil Nadu, and grew up with handlers who spoke Tamil.

By Web Team

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Published: Tue 27 Sep 2016, 1:08 PM

Last updated: Tue 27 Sep 2016, 3:13 PM

What problems do you usually foresee when a tiger is moved from one biological park to another? Threat to other animals, threat to the handlers, and maybe even a change in climate which could affect the health of the beast.
But what caretakers of this white tiger completely forgot to factor in is a language problem.
Rama, a white tiger, was born in Arignar Anna Zoological Park in 2011 in Tamil Nadu, and grew up with handlers who spoke Tamil.
But now that the tiger, named Rama, has been shifted to the Sajjangarh Biological Park in Udaipur, the caretakers there are having a tough time communicating with the animal -- because they cannot speak Tamil!
Rama is being exchanged for a pair of wolfs with the Chennai zoological park.
"Either the tiger learns Mewari language or the caretakers here learn Tamil," officials of the park were quoted saying by Hindustan Times.
In this regard a letter has been sent to the director of the Chennai zoo asking to send a Tamil caretaker along.

Chief conservator of forests, Udaipur, Rahul Bhatnagar said, "We already have a female tigress, known as Damini, which we had brought from Pune zoo last year under exchange. The presence of male tiger will help in improving the tiger population."
"There are huge numbers of animal lovers in Udaipur, and the presence of white tiger will be another attraction for them. The park witnessed a footfall of 80,000 this year and generated revenue of Rs 25 lakh," Bhatnagar said.
 (Compiled by Sana Altaf)


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