It is for the first time that a black tiger cub was born in any zoo in the country.

Nandankanan Biological Park authorities claimed on Monday that the zoo was first in the country to have a melanistic (black) tiger cub born in captivity.

The zoo celebrated the Global Tiger Day on Monday with joy as the five-year-old white tigress Sneha gave birth to four cubs, including the black cub, on Sunday. On Monday, authorities released CCTV pictures of the new born cubs.

“It is for the first time that a black tiger cub was born in any zoo in the country,” S.S. Srivastav, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest said, adding that though black tigers were earlier seen in the wild, none were born in captivity till now.

“We are monitoring the cubs and their mother through CCTV cameras. We are optimistic that all the four cubs will survive as Sneha has been extra careful with her cubs,” zoo director Sudarshan Panda said.