Bhopal:
Seven tiger cubs have been spotted for the first time in Satpura Tiger Reserve which comprises parts of Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad, Betul and Chhindwara districts.
"Yes, seven new guests have arrived in our park," Tiger Reserve Field Director R P Singh told PTI today.
He said while one tigress has given birth to four cubs, another big cat to three cubs.
The seven cubs were recently photographed by tourists, Singh added.
"With the arrival of cubs, the forest officials are anticipating that tiger population has gone up to 65 to 70 in the park stretched over an area of 2200 sq km," the field director said.
Singh said the tiger population was 39-43 in the nationwide big cat count carried out two years ago.
In the wake of spotting of cubs, security has been ramped up in Satpura Reserve. The state officials are striving to reclaim Madhya Pradesh's tiger state tag from Karnataka.
In the last tiger census, the striped animal population was highest in Karnataka, pushing Madhya Pradesh to the second place.