Rama is a white tiger and will be the new attraction at Udaipur zoo. However, Rama only understands humans speaking in Tamil. You read that right!

A formal request has been placed for a Tamil zookeeper to accompany the white tiger.

Representational image/BCCL

“Either the tiger learns Mewari language or the caretakers here learn Tamil,” the officials of the Sajjangarh Biological Park told HT. The DFO and in-charge of biological park, T Mohanraj, who hails from Chennai, said a letter has been sent to the director of the Chennai zoo to send along a Tamil caretaker with the tiger.

Rama was born in Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Tamil Nadu in 2011 and understands the commands of its present caretakers who speak Tamil.

Representational image/Reuters

The idea to get a male white tiger to the biological park was to attempt an in-breeding programme. Chief conservator of forests, Udaipur, Rahul Bhatnagar said, “We already have a female tigress, known as Damini, which we had brought from Pune zoo last year under exchange. The presence of male tiger will help in improving the tiger population.”

“There are huge numbers of animal lovers in Udaipur, and the presence of white tiger will be another attraction for them. The park witnessed a footfall of 80,000 this year and generated revenue of Rs 25 lakh,” Bhatnagar said.