Two tiger cubs found dead in Ranthambhore National Park

Two tiger cubs were today found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Ranthambhore National Park (RNP) in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district, 175km from Jaipur, a top wildlife official said.

"Carcasses of two male cubs were spotted near Taleda village located in the North of RNP along with two carcasses of goats," RN Mehrotra, the state chief wildlife warden, told PTI here.

The cause of their death was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that, however, that prima facie it seemed like a case of poisoning.

When asked to clarify whether it was a poaching incident, he said it was too early to draw such a conclusion.

The carcasses have been sent for post-mortem.

According to a census conducted by the forest department in May 2009, there were 40 tigers in and around Ranthambore National Park and Sawai Madhopur wildlife sanctuary.

Meanwhile, People for Animal (NGO) state convenor Babulal Jaju demanded that a high-level probe be ordered into the deaths by the state government. Mehrotra said the carcasses were found by RNP search parties while they were on routine tracking.

Mehrotra said the pug marks of the cubs were not seen in the area for the last couple of days. Hence, their disappearance was being suspected, he added.

RNP lies on the junction of Aravalli hills and Vindhyas.