ONE of the star attractions of Sanjay Gandhi National Park's (SGNP) safari — 10-year-old Royal Bengal tiger Anand has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and his condition is said to be critical.

Talking to mid-day SGNP veterinary officer Dr Shailesh Pethe said, "Anand has developed a lump in the jaw and his blood tests also showed that he has developed chronic renal disease with age. A team of experts and senior professors from Mumbai Veterinary College conducted a preliminary investigation and based on the collective opinion, a biopsy was done, wherein it was confirmed to be a malignant tumour. A team of experienced veterinarians and professors are treating him, but his condition remains critical. His elder brother, Yash, 12, died of same complications in May last year."