MUMBAI, Dec 4: Four tiger cubs were found dead in Chandrapur's Tadoba Andhari
Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra on Saturday morning, three days after the
carcass of a tigress, said to be their mother, was found in the same area. However,
the tigress' carcass was two-three weeks old. The cubs, two males and two females,
were three to four months old.
The four carcasses were found scattered in compartment No. 265 of the forest
range on Saturday. That was three km away from Gate No 185. The carcass of the
tigress T-75 was also found in the same area earlier. The tigress had died two-three
weeks ago.
According to Field director and CCF, TATR, Jitendra Ramgaonkar, the bite marks
on the bodies indicated that the cubs were killed by a male tiger, TOI reported.
The cubs were "unidentified" ones. A DNA examination will be done to find out
if the cubs were of the dead tigress. A post-mortem examination has been conducted
on the four carcasses by veterinary doctors.
Forest officials said a male tiger was found in the area on Friday. Due to
territorial fights, 21 tigers have died in the State this year.
