Over 550 citizens take part in the public naming drive
Jamshedpur, Jan 23: In a unique initiative aimed at encouraging public participation and strengthening the bond between citizens and wildlife, Tata Steel Zoological Park (TSZP) invited the people of Jamshedpur to name two tigress cubs born at the Zoo on 27 November 2025.
The two cubs were born to Rudra, the resident tiger, and Meghna, the tigress, and have since been under continuous veterinary care and monitoring. As part of this citizen-engagement initiative, the Zoo opened a public naming process from 10 January to 13 January 2026, during which an overwhelming response was received. More than 550 name entries were submitted by enthusiastic citizens over the four-day period.
Many of the suggested names were thoughtful, meaningful, and culturally rich, reflecting the deep interest and affection of Jamshedpur’s citizens towards the Zoo and its animals. While selecting the final names, emphasis was placed on names that were easy to pronounce, carried positive meanings, and complemented each other, keeping in mind the identity of the two cubs as siblings.
After a detailed review process involving Zoo officials, the names “Tara” and “Sara” were finalised. The winning entry was submitted by Ms Angel Verma, who will be honoured on Republic Day in recognition of her participation and contribution.
Interestingly, the name “Tara” was also suggested by several other citizens, namely Md. Arman, Megha Mahato, Rishita Sharma, Pratham Agarwal, Ravi Kashyap, Monalisa Barman, Adnan Akhtar, Aditya Kumar, Sujeet Haldar, Dipanshu Singh, and Syed Ejaj Hasan. As a token of appreciation, all these participants will be rewarded with complimentary Zoo entry passes for themselves and their families.
Meanwhile, both tigress cubs are reported to be in good health. They were recently vaccinated against canine distemper and were weighed at 7.34 kg and 7.20 kg, respectively, indicating healthy growth and development.
Such participatory initiatives play a vital role in fostering empathy towards wild animals, while also educating the public about nature and wildlife conservation. Tata Steel Zoological Park remains committed to providing the highest standards of animal care in captivity and continues to play an active role in creating awareness and imparting education on wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.
