March 6, 2010

Bokaro.  A white tiger suffering from cancer is struggling for his life in this steel city, zoo authorities said.

"The white tiger is suffering from fibro sarcoma, a form of cancer. Efforts are on to save it," Sanjay Tewary, chief of communications at the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSP) told IANS. The Jawaharlal Nehru Zoo of Bokaro is run by BSP.  
 

The white tiger aged around 11 years is called Ram. He was brought to the zoo from  Chattisgarh's Bhilai zoo in 2004. According to doctors, the test report confirming cancer reached them Thursday. The tiger has been suffering from the ailment for the past four months.  
 

"Four months ago we found Ram started behaving abnormally and during treatment we found symptoms of hyper salvation, oral haemorrhage and gingivitis. Three months ago we found a tumour on Ram's cheeks," said G. Chakravarty, a doctor at the zoo.  
 

Doctors say the chances of survival of the white tiger are negligible.
Bokaro zoo has only two tigers including Ram.