Jaipur, July 31 (IANS): In a heartening news for tiger lovers, two cubs have been recently spotted in Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, a minister said Wednesday.

A cub to T 26 (Sharmelee) was spotted Wednesday through camera traps installed in the Mai Dang region which is the territory of the lioness in the park situated in Sawai Madhopur district, over 180 kms from here.

The cub seems to be about three months old, said Bina Kak, minister of environment and forests.

"The photo shows only one cub. However, we are verifying evidence of more cubs of T 26 (Sharmelee) through camera traps and pug marks," Kak said.

On 28 July, the field staff of the park found evidence through pug marks of a cub with T 11 (Chiroli tigress) in the Chiroli forest block.

"The confirmation of this is being done through camera traps which have been installed already for the purpose," she said.

Ranthambore National Park, which at present is home to around 52 tigers, including 26 cubs (not including the two spotted now), was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of 'Project Tiger'. It got the status of national park in 1981.