Two tiger cubs and a tigress were found dead on Monday morning near the Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra around 150 km from Nagpur.

Officials informed that the animals were found dead near a lake in Metepara jungle of the district, adjacent to the Tadoba Tiger Reserve.

The dead cubs were aged around months while (their mother) the tigress was five to six years old.

The carcasses were spotted by a forest guard who immediately informed the forest officials.

Principal chief conservator of forests-wildlife of Maharashtra Nitin Kakodhar said that the reason behind the death of the felines are yet to be ascertained and the bodies have been sent for post mortem.

He also expressed his apprehensions of this being a case of food poisoning.

It may be mentioned here with the deaths of three big cats on Monday, the toll has risen to eleven in the state since January this year.