BENGALURU, 12 JULY

Three tiger cubs born at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) have died after their mother, tigress Hima Das, allegedly abandoned them shortly after birth, officials confirmed on Saturday. The cubs, part of Hima’s third litter, were born on 7 July but sustained injuries after the tigress failed to care for them. Despite being moved to the zoo hospital for intensive care and hand-rearing, one male cub died on 8 July, followed by the deaths of another male and a female cub the next day.

A post-mortem revealed that one male died from cervical injuries caused by stamping, another from brain injuries and meningeal haematoma due to the mother biting its head, and the female also succumbed to injuries from stamping.

“In captivity, tigresses sometimes lack maternal instincts, leading to abandonment,” the BBP noted in a statement.