Mother tiger and cubs found dead in suspected mass poisoning
Five tigers, a mother and her four cubs, were discovered dead in the MM Hills wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka, southern India.
Officials suspect the tigers died from poisoning, noting a dead cow nearby, as villagers sometimes poison carcasses to deter tigers preying on livestock.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday and was discovered on Thursday, is believed to be the highest single-day tiger casualty toll in one sanctuary in India.
Eshwar B Khandre, the state minister for forest ecology and environment, has deemed the deaths "unnatural" and initiated an investigation, vowing criminal cases for any negligence or foul play.
The deaths are particularly distressing for Karnataka, a state recognized for its successful conservation efforts and home to India's second-largest tiger population.
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