Pilikula’s pride & joy Raja dies of heart attack

MANGALURU: The Pilikula Biological Park at Vamanjoor on the outskirts of the city lost 21-year-old Raja to age-related illness in the early hours of Friday. This has been the tiger’s since 2003 after he was brought from the Tyavarekoppa Tiger and Lion Safari in Shivamogga district. With his measured gait, the 280kg big cat was the cynosure of all eyes.
While his majestic persona endeared him to caretakers and others at the park, the same cat took the life of Kushalappa, his caretaker, about 30 months ago. Raja’s mood swings also caused the death of Bunty, the sprightly tigress in the park when he attacked her while mating. This was one of his rare forays with female tigers here.
Park director H Jayaprakash Bhandary remembered how he had gone to Tyavarekoppa to bring Raja. “Ever since he mauled Kushalappa, Raja was not his usual self and gradually slipped into a shell,” he told TOI. In fact, towards the end, Kushalappa would often venture, without any fear of being attacked, into Raja’s cage to check if the cat was taking the prescribed medicines.
Having reduced his food intake for several months, Raja was not his active self and lost a lot of weight, Bhandary said. Big cats are known to survive in the wild for 10-12-years and 18 years in captivity, Bhandary said, adding that Raja had lived way beyond this.
The park now has seven tigers including the sole female Nethravathi.
A post mortem revealed that Raja had suffered a heart attack, Bhandary said. “We videographed the entire process and cremated the carcass as per the Central Zoo Authority norms to prevent trophy hunters from stealing body parts,” he said.
Raja’s loss could soon be made up as Nethravathi may deliver cubs within the next few months.