White tigers now receive 12 kilograms of buffalo meat daily, up from 10 kilograms, to sustain body heat. The facility houses four white tigers—adults Raghu, Tipu, and Sonam, plus a cub—alongside five Bengal tigers and two lions.

Other adjustments target vulnerable species. Bears get kheer for extra warmth, while exotic birds in the walk-in aviary feast on boiled eggs and increased "warm-natured" grains like sunflower seeds and sesame.

Reptiles, including pythons and snakes, benefit from dedicated heating. Bird enclosures sit on elevated platforms with grass, straw, and wood shelters to escape ground chill.

Veterinarian Dr Nitin Gupta explained that heaters and heat lamps are deployed near enclosures, green sheets shield big cats from winds and dew, and straw bedding lines floors. Carnivores get fattier meat portions, herbivores extra vegetables, fruits, and jaggery, plus vitamin supplements.

Deer bask in morning sun but stay protected at night.

These measures coincide with peak tourist season. Officials expect 50,000 visitors on New Year's Day alone, with winter footfall nearly doubling thanks to pleasant weather, greener landscapes, and more active animals.

Visitors from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar dominate, drawn to clearer sightings of tigers roaming openly.

The influx boosts local hotels, eateries, and transport, generating jobs in the Vindhya region.

Tourist Aditya Sharma from Bhopal called the winter visit "thrilling," praising the greenery and free-roaming tigers. Neha Verma from Prayagraj highlighted the pleasant conditions and informative guides, noting it felt safe for families.

Mukundpur, Madhya Pradesh's only white tiger safari and the world's first, spans 250 acres near Rewa. Named after Maharaja Martand Singh Judev—who captured the original white tiger Mohan in the 1950s—it opened in 2016 and quickly drew crowds.

An adjacent eco-tourism park offers adventure activities, complementing nearby sites like Maihar's Sharda Temple and waterfalls.

Officials predict a bumper winter, reinforcing Mukundpur's role as a key wildlife destination while prioritizing animal welfare in harsher conditions.