Search for third tiger cub continues in TATR

Chandrapur: Intense search operations were undertaken in the Sitarampeth beat under Moharli range of Tadoba buffer zone on Monday in search of the third cub of the tigress found dead a few days back. Park rangers are on their toes since Sunday after recovery of carcasses of two tiger cubs and two langurs close to where the tigress was found dead earlier.
The search operation in the area remained fruitless as parties failed to locate any new dead body or live cub. However, as entire episode is suspected to be a case of poisoning, TATR authorities are thoroughly investigating every aspect. There has however been no arrests in the case on Monday.
The post mortem of both the cubs and langurs remained inconclusive due to petrified condition of the bodies. The viscera samples of all these dead animals were sent to the forensic lab at Chandrapur. There is a possibility a small waterhole in Kondegaon talao might have been poisoned for herbivore poaching, and it killed the tiger family. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of a wild boar kill being poisoned by villagers to get rid of prowling tiger family around the pond.
Meanwhile, forest officials have installed 10 camera traps in the area and scoured every corner of the forest around the spot in search of the third tiger cub, but to no avail. Officials, however, claimed they would continue their search operation on Tuesday. They have also decided to send the DNA sample of dead tigress and the two dead cubs to CCMB in Hyderabad to confirm their relation.