Deccan Herald
 
Mangalore, Nov 24: Two tigers and two leopards were taken to Pilikula Nisarga Dhama in Mangalore from Tyavarekoppa Lion Sanctuary in Shimoga, on Thursday.

Pulakeshi (male tiger - 4 years and 9 months old), Varada (female tiger - 4 years and 1 month old), Lakshman (male leopard - 4 years and 9 months old) and Shwetha (female leopard - 3 years and one month old), began their journey to Mangalore on Thursday evening.

Though the Central Zoo Authority had given its consent for the shifting of these animals to Pilikula, however, the Karnataka Zoo Authority had not given its consent. Hence, its shifting had not been decided for sometime. However, some senior forest officials kept trying for the Karnataka Zoo Authority’s permission and as a result, the Authority gave its oral permission.

According to official sources, the oral permission would be made official in the next meeting of the administrative board of the Karnataka Zoo Authority. With the transfer of two tigers and two leopards, the number of tigers in the Tyavarekoppa Lion Sanctuary has been reduced to 17, at present. While, the number of leopards has been reduced to seven. Apart from this, one male and two female lions are also there.

This was for the second time that the animals were being sent to the Pilikula Nisarga Dhama. On November 25, 2003, Vanamala and Sharavathi, two female tigers and Raja and Vikram, two male tigers were sent to Pilikula. However, sources have clarified that of these, one female tiger got killed after being injured in a fight.

Sources also stated that the Lion Sanctuary was expecting that in replacement to these four animals, the Central Zoo Authority would be sending other animals.