Chennai, Aug 17 (IANS): Two tiger cubs were found dead in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Tamil Nadu, Forest Department officials said on Thursday.

The bodies of the cubs found on Wednesday were sent for post-mortem and its report indicate that stomachs of both the tiger cubs were empty, indicating that the mother had abandoned them, P. Arun Kumar, Deputy Director of MTR (Buffer Zone), told media persons.

The forest officer also said that there were neither injury marks on the bodies nor signs of poisoning.

The forest department officials are waiting for a forensic report of the sample of carcasses of the two tiger cubs to ascertain the cause of death.

Tamil Nadu has recorded an increase in Tiger population from 264 in 2018 to 306 in 2022, as per the report in the website of the Union forest ministry.

The Tamil Nadu government has been properly monitoring to prevent any poaching activities in the tiger reserves and forest areas.