Biochemical profile of captive tigers in different zoos of Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

Tiger (Panthera tigris), the flagship species for conservation, is an important umbrella species in many different ecoregions of India and home to over 70% of the world's tiger population. The major threats to reduction in tiger population include poaching, nutritional deficiencies, and infectious diseases which necessitates robust health management strategies. The present study was envisaged with an aim to evaluate the biochemical profile of captive tigers across three different zoos in Chhattisgarh, India in an attempt to assess their health status. Biochemical parameters including AST, ALT, ALP, glucose, total serum protein, albumin, globulin, AG ratio, BUN, creatinine, and cholesterol were analyzed as per standard protocols. The findings of this study indicated that the overall mean values of these parameters in captive tigers were within normal ranges, suggesting a generally healthy status for the captive tigers across these zoos. These findings of current study highlights the importance of monitoring health indicators in captive tigers to ensure much better conservation efforts for wellbeing of this endangered species.