New Delhi, June 27 -- Four tiger cubs and her mother were found dead under suspicious circumstances in the core area of Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary (MM Hills) in the Chamarajaranagar district on Thursday, Hindustan Times quoted a forest official as saying.

"The five carcasses were found at 11am during a routine patrol by beat staff in Hanur taluk. It is suspected that the big cats may have consumed poisoned meat, possibly placed at the spot to target them," HT quoted T Heera Lal, Chamarajanagar chief conservator of forests, as saying.

"Prima facie it seems a case of food poisoning. The tigress, aged between 8 to 10 years, may have killed a cow and returned later to feed on the carcass, which could have been laced with poison. T...