BALLARI: Bhima, one of the oldest captive royal Bengal tigers in the country, died due to old age on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old tiger housed at the mini zoo here had no companion. Zoo staff told Express: “Bhima was ill on Tuesday and hence, veterinarians were called in from Bengaluru. It was planned to shift him to Bengaluru on the night itself. We were getting ready to go to Bengaluru. But when we returned the zoo after dinner, we were shocked to see Bhima dead.” Bhima’s parents Sindhu and Lava had died in the zoo two decades ago. Bhima was ailing for over five years.