Guwahati: Raja, the oldest Royal Bengal Tiger kept in captivity in West Bengal passed away in his refuge in the Alipurduar district’s Jaldapara forest.
The forest department celebrated Raja’s 25th birthday last year on August 23 with joy. The celebration was given fresh life when Raja survived a crocodile attack in 2008.
According to Chief Wildlife Warden Debal Roy, Raja did not exhibit any recent signs of a significant disease, and the vets determined that his death was due to age-related issues, which sometimes manifest suddenly.
According to Roy, the carnivore lived to be 25 years and 10 months old making it the oldest Royal Bengal Tiger in the region.
However, official was unable to confirm without double-checking whether Raja was the oldest Royal Bengal Tiger in the nation as well, adding that the big cats typically don’t live past the age of 20.
He added that Raja, who had been brought to the South Khayerbari Tiger Rescue Centre since 2008 now walked on a prosthetic limb as his natural limb was amputated in a crocodile attack while swimming across a creek in the Sunderbans.
The department had determined the tiger’s age as 12 in 2008 using a number of accepted techniques.
According to the official, Raja used to answer to the calls of his keepers and the veterinarians who took care of him, adding that “he was like a child.” He appeared to comprehend everything.