Thiruvananthapuram: The oldest tiger at Thiruvananthapuram died this morning. The Bengal Tiger named Manu was 17-years-old. The big cat suffering from liver-related issues has been undergoing treatment since December 2023.

The tiger was born and brought up in the zoo. The male tiger was born to his mother Karishma on January 13, 2007. On an average, tigers live for almost 12 years. 

After falling ill, Manu was surviving by feeding on boneless mutton and by drinking soup and milk. 

As its health condition worsened, the tiger was shifted to a special cage at the zoo. The facility was lit up using infrared to maintain warmth. 

Dr Nikesh Kiran, the veterinary surgeon at the zoo, stated that the big cat had succumbed to pneumonia. The funeral was done at 3 PM today, as per the regulations of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.