4 tiger cubs have died reportedly due to starvation in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. (Representational Image)
The Centre has directed to probe the death of four tiger cubs in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, and the inquiry would also ascertain as to why the forest department personnel reached the spot four hours after the information was received.
On Sunday, forest officials had found two dead cubs near Saoli town in Chandrapur district, while a third was lying in a serious condition. Though the cub was rushed to a hospital for further treatment, it could not be saved. A fourth cub was found dead in a nearby area, after a thorough search.
"There are two aspects here. One that the tigress gave birth to cubs in non-reserved areas and it was under the jurisdiction of Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation (MFDC). In reserved areas, there is a proper force to deal with such exigencies.
"However, this cannot be overlooked on why did the forest department personnel take four hours to reach the spot. They could have given them some milk and saved them. I have directed to inquire the matter," Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar said.
The Maharashtra government has already ordered a probe into this matter.
The cubs had died reportedly due to starvation. The villagers of Pathri had first detected the carcasses of tiger cubs under Saoli forest range near Gosikhurd canal.
The spot is at least 50 kilometres away from the Tadoba tiger sanctuary.