Vandalur's white tiger cubs await naming by CM

Chief minister M Karunanidhi has an unusual task at hand, though it is something he can accomplish in a matter of seconds giving Tamil names to the three white tiger cubs born in the Vandalur zoo on June 6. Zoo officials are eagerly waiting to hear from the chief minister's office.
The cub's father is called Bhishma and mother Anu. They were brought to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur from the Delhi zoo in 2006. The idea to give Tamil names to the cubs was mooted by state forest minister N Selvaraj, who visited the zoo on July 5 to inspect their condition.
Selvaraj told zoo authorities that instead of giving them common names such as Mani and Geetha (as the two adult bisons at the zoo are called), the cubs should be named after ancient Tamil scholars and who would be more qualified to do that than the CM himself?
So last month, a team of zoo officials led by the then director V Irulandi, along with Selvaraj, met Karunanidhi and requested him to name the cubs. So far nothing has been heard from the CM's office.
But zoo authorities are optimistic. "No names have been finalised. Once a decision is taken, we will let you know," zoo director KSSVP Reddy, who is also the chief conservator of forests, told TOI.
Zoo authorities feel the cubs should be named sooner than later. "These cubs are nearly three months old. The staff has already started calling them by common names. Before they get familiar with these names, it is better to give them Tamil names," a zoo official said.
The cubs will be put on display for the public from Sunday.