Tigress, four cubs die of suspected poisoning

Officials suspect that the cats in Male Mahadeshwara sanctuary died after consuming poison-laced meat

- K SHIVA KUMAR @Mysuru

IN a major blow to tiger conservation efforts in Karnataka, the carcasses of a tigress and her four cubs were found in Meenyam forest of Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamrajnagar district on Thursday morning.

Foresters prima facie suspect that the big cats died after consuming poison-laced cattle meat. The carcasses were found by the frontline staff during routine morning patrol. A team of veterinarians conducted the autopsy and collected comprehensive tissue, blood, and stomach samples for toxicology, histopathology, and DNA profiling.