Fate of 'smuggled' tigresses still unclear

It has been learnt reliably that the supplier of white tigresses did not possess most of the said necessary documents including the important one from the NCCW, bill of landing and detailed pedigree of these animals. The so-called pedigree available with him does not even mention the colour of parents of these big cats, as it only states that they are not hybrid.
The sources said that the supplier spent around Rs 100,000 a piece, including the price, customs duty etc, but the Lahore Zoo was purchasing these animals from him at around Rs 3.8 million each, spending over Rs 7.6 for both the tigresses. The Zoo authorities, however, maintain that price is competitive and the Zoo had invited tenders and the contract was given on merit, following all relevant rules. They have attributed the controversy to an ongoing tussle between bureaucracy and the task force on Wildlife headed by former Governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar.
According to insiders, the supplier of white tigresses is in a fix. If he declares the animals as albinos to absolve himself of the necessary condition of first getting the import permit from the NCCW, he cannot justify the exorbitant price of tigresses he is demanding from the Zoo authorities. Similarly, if he claims that these animals belong to the rare species of white tigers, not only the condition of getting NCCW permit will apply, but he would also have to produce a detailed pedigree of these animals to support his claim, of their being a rare species. He has got neither of the two documents, said the sources.
The Lahore Zoo sources further said that efforts were underway to hush up the inquiry regarding controversial purchase of the white tigresses. Withdrawal of an official letter on June 25 by office of the Director Lahore Zoo regarding the said probe has further strengthened the doubts about its fate.