Jamshedpur: The twin adorable daughters of Tata Steel Zoological Park's Royal Bengal Tigress Dona finally got their names, Saloni and Sunaina, some three weeks before they turn one on August 23.
Zoo authorities on Monday declared that the naamkarn ceremony of the cubs were held on Sunday, International Tiger Day (July 29).
The names were chosen from citizen submissions through a draw of lots before visitors, including schoolchildren, on zoo premises. Saloni had been suggested by Baidnath Kumar Pandit of Baliguma, near Dimna on NH-33, and Sunaina by Rita Mahto from Gamharia.
Saloni means beautiful and Sunaina the beautiful-eyed one.
Names for tiger cubs were invited via email and directly through drop boxes at the zoo from February 5 to March 1. Some 457 entrees were received during that time. But, March also proved to be one of the worst months for the corporate zoo, as two tigresses, Ahana and Dona's third daughter -Dona had given birth to triplets with mutant tiger partner Kailash - died in a babesiosis scare, but the existence of the tick-borne infection was not proven.
Finally, 214 female names for the two surviving female cubs were shortlisted and these two names selected.
"We had been waiting for the right day to name the cubs and yesterday (Sunday) was the best day being International Tiger Day. The cubs are healthy and playful and will turn a year old next month," said zoo director Bipul Chakrabarty.
Children were most thrilled with the names. Janvi, 8, a student of Rajendra Vidyalaya and a frequent visitor to the zoo, said she liked the names. "I've seen them play in the zoo. I can now call them by their names when I go next," she smiled.
The corporate zoo run by Tata Steel sprawls across 37 hectares inside the steel city's landmark 202-hectare Jubilee Park and is home to over 400 inmates, including pure-bred African lions, Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears and sambars. Closed on Mondays, the zoo otherwise sees a footfall of over 1,000 visitors daily, the number peaking to around 3,000 on Sundays.
