Tirupati zoo mourns death of male Jaguar Kusha

Kusha , a 15-year-old male jaguar at the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park (SV Zoo), Tirupati, died on Tuesday after accidentally getting entangled while climbing a tree in his enclosure. Despite immediate intervention by zookeepers and the veterinary team, the big cat could not be revived.

Kusha had been transferred from Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, in 2013, and had been a major attraction at the Tirupati zoo for over a decade. The zoo announced his death in an official release, describing him as a magnificent animal who captivated visitors. A postmortem conducted by experts at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University confirmed the cause of death as hypervolemic shock and asphyxia, consistent with accidental entanglement.

SV Zoo currently houses only one surviving jaguar, a female named Nisha. These remain the only jaguars in Andhra Pradesh, as the species is non-native to India and is maintained purely for educational and display purposes. Jaguars require large, enriched enclosures and specialized care, which limits the zoo to maintaining just a male-female pair.

The zoo’s animal welfare practices are regulated by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and supplemented by state funding. Andhra Pradesh allocates approximately ₹8–10 crore per year to SV Zoo, covering operations, feeding, veterinary care, and maintenance. Of this, ₹3–4 crore is typically used for direct animal welfare, including species-specific diets, veterinary check-ups, habitat enrichment, and behavioral programs. Central funding from the CZA also supports welfare, though priority is given to native endangered species such as tigers, lions, elephants, and gharials. Exotic species like jaguars receive only a small fraction of these funds.

Experts confirm that SV Zoo follows official animal welfare standards, with proper feeding, veterinary care, and enriched enclosures. Kusha’s death is considered a tragic accident, not a failure of care. However, zoo officials have announced a review of enclosure designs to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The zoo plays a vital role in wildlife conservation education, showcasing both native and exotic species to the public. Kusha’s death has been mourned by staff and visitors alike, highlighting both the challenges of managing large carnivores in captivity and the ongoing efforts of SV Zoo to maintain high welfare standards.