MELAKA: A scrawny White Bengal tiger at Melaka Zoo is sick and not mistreated, says Datin Sapiah Haron.
The Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) president said the tiger, fondly known as Elsa, has been suffering from a spinal cord disorder since birth.
"This affects her diet. When we took possession of Elsa in 2019 at nine months old, her weight was only 50kg.
"Currently, she weighs 80kg and is given a special diet under close watch by veterinarians," she said on Monday (Jan 8).
MPHTJ manages the Melaka Zoo.
Sapiah said Elsa is fed with five kilos of chicken daily but she only consumes 80% of the food served.
"Her feeding regime is also monitored by the Wildlife and National Parks Department.
"It's wrong to say that Elsa's condition was because she wasn't fed accordingly," she said.
Sapiah said Elsa is also pampered by zookeepers due to her health condition and that observations are made constantly.
She said Melaka Zoo will place a signboard at Elsa's enclosure to inform visitors of her actual health condition.
Sapiah said the menagerie has 12 wild cats, Malayan Tiger, lions and panthers, among others.
Elsa's condition was posted in social media recently by a visitor following suspicions that it was mistreated.
