Bhubaneswar: The female tiger cub, born on January 12 at Nandankanan zoo and being hand reared, is doing well, zoo officials said on Wednesday.

The cub is being hand reared after its mother Ankita had killed one male cub and rejected the female cub.

Deputy director of the zoo Jayant Dash said the weight of the cub had increased to 3.8kg from 1,100 grams after its birth. "It is being fed with royal canine milk which is a mixture of powdered dog milk and minerals. The milk is being brought from Calcutta and it is mixed with warm water before serving to the cub. The cub is healthy and fine," said Dash.

While the cub was initially being given 20ml milk in every two hours, it has been increased to 40ml in every two hours now. "At present, the cub is being fed with only milk, and after it becomes three-month-old, we will serve minced buffalo meat to it. The cub is staying in the special ward of the zoo clinic. It has also been roaming freely on the grass lawn during day time," said Dash.

Zoo officials said care was being taken by vets to ensure that the cub did not develop any infection.

"Our vets are also conducting health check-ups of the cub," said an official.