Jaigaon : Eleven Royal Bengal Tigers rehabilitated at a rescue centre after their performance in circus shows was banned are being fed less than their daily quota of meat. That the tigers kept at the centre in South Khayerbari in Alipurduar subdivision were being fed short of a total of 10 kilos of beef daily first came to the notice of the veterinary surgeon from Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Proloy Mondol. "I had gone to South Khairbari on June 4 and when I looked at the meat that would be distributed to the tigers I sensed that it was less than the prescribed amount. When I told the staff to weigh the meat, it was found that the food was 10kg less,' Mondol said. According to forest department sources, each tiger has to be given eight kilos of beef a day. However, the supply fell 10kg short of the 88kg of meat sent by a supplier in Falakata. The sources said the state forest minister had already ordered an inquiry and it was found that the shortage in the supply from 2006 to the present day was 6,790kg. Animesh Bose, the co-ordinator of the Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, said in November 2005 19 tigers had been brought to South Khairbari from different circus companies. "Four tigers were sent to the Darjeeling zoo, while another four died at the centre,' said Bose. "I have often wondered if tigers frequently fell ill because of their low-quantity diet and whether this has led to their deaths. The manner in which a section of unscrupulous staff of the forest department is making money by unfair means is a matter that we will protest against,' Bose said. Efforts to contact the forest ranger of South Khairbari, Anjan Banerjee, and divisional forest officer Ujjwal Ghosh over phone proved to be futile. However, when contacted on his mobile phone, state forest minister, Ananta Roy, said he was aware of the incident. "I have ordered an inquiry into the matter and the guilty would be given exemplary punishment.'