TN CM names three lion, four tiger cubs at Vandalur zoo

: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami visited the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, near here, Saturday and named three lion cubs and four tiger cubs.

Also, Palaniswami unveiled a new visitor's area near the enclosure for rhinoceros.

Three cubs born to lion 'Siva' and lioness' Neela' were named as 'Pradeep', 'Dhakshina' and 'Niranjana' by Palaniswami, an official press release said.

Similarly, four white tiger cubs born to tiger 'Vijay' and tigress 'Uthra' were named as 'Mithran', 'Yuga', 'Venmathi' and 'Rithwik', the release said.

Referring to the earlier announcement made by Palaniswami that an Indian rhinoceros would be brought from Bihar and Telangana through a scheme involving exchange of animals, the release said an upgraded enclosure was formally inaugurated also by him.

Steps have been taken to receive two females from Bihar and a male rhinoceros from Telangana, the release said.

Forest Minister 'Dindigul' C Srinivasan, Minister for Rural Industries, P Benjamin, and senior government officials were present on the occasion, the release said.