Two Bengal tiger cubs christened<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two of the four Bengal tiger cubs born at the
\nRagunan Zoo in South Jakarta over three months ago were
\nchristened on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The names -- Bima and Belang -- were selected from entries
\nsent by 379 students of six international schools and two local
\nprivate schools in a contest sponsored by the Friends of the Zoo.<\/p>\n
Zoo director Ismiyanto announced the selection in a ceremony
\non Tuesday beside the tiger enclosure.<\/p>\n
Lena Ripple from Pondok Indah Elementary School and Andrea K.
\nfrom the International French School in Cilandak selected the
\nwinning names.<\/p>\n
Kartini School students Aditya Hartawan and Yustus La Rangka
\nwere the other winners in the competition with their choice of
\nKomar and Rimba.<\/p>\n
The four cubs are the offspring of Basha, a white Bengal
\nTiger, brought in from Cincinnati in the United States in 1990
\nfor breeding purposes, and Kunti, a yellow Bengal Tiger, said
\nDiana Ridgeway, a volunteer with the Friends of the Zoo.<\/p>\n
The Kartini students' names were not conferred on the other
\ntwo cubs as the animals will not be staying at the zoo, but would
\nbe held over as potential names for other cubs, Diana said.<\/p>\n
"We've no idea when or where the two are leaving for, but the
\nnames of Komar and Rimba will be kept aside," Diana told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
She said the names would possibly be given to the as yet
\nunborn offspring of two White Tigers Nieve and Nehru. The cubs
\nare due to be born at the end of June.<\/p>\n
The zoo attendant in charge of the four cubs, Massadi, said
\nthe four were bathed every day at 10 a.m..<\/p>\n
"All four cubs play for at least two hours after being bathed
\nand then sleep until 3 p.m. They are doing just fine. At night,
\nthe four sleep with their mother, Kunti," Massadi said, pointing
\nto an enclosure equipped with a wooden plank separating the lower
\nsection.<\/p>\n
Kunti was seen roaming restlessly in the enclosure, once the
\nplank was removed.<\/p>\n
"The plank is placed in such a way so as to prevent Kunti from
\nseeing her cubs playing. She does not like to see the cubs play
\nwithout her," Massadi said.<\/p>\n
He said the schools which had joined in the contest had done a
\n"noble thing".<\/p>\n
Participating schools included Cita Buana School, the
\nInternational Australian School, the Jakarta International School
\nand the Global Jaya School. A total of Rp 5.75 million was raised
\nfor the Friends of the Zoo, which is in charge of feeding 47
\ncarnivores at the zoo.<\/p>\n
Diana said it cost between Rp 1.6 million to Rp 2.2 million
\neach day to feed the carnivores.<\/p>\n
"The animals are fed boar meat from Sumatra and chicken."<\/p>\n
She said that Friends of the Zoo -- an organization of about
\n150 families who care for the welfare of animals -- contributed
\nup to 220 kilograms of meat every week. (ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-bengal-tiger-cubs-christened-1447893297",
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