The country has launched an investigation after an endangered tigress and her four cubs were found dead in a protected forest in the southern state of Karnataka.

State forest minister Eshwar Khandre said the “unnatural” deaths were “extremely tragic and distressing” and that an investigation team had been formed.

Local media reports said forest officials suspected poisoning.

The tigress had reportedly killed a cow days earlier and poison may have been laced into the carcass, which her cubs also fed on, according to The Times of India.

“If there has been any negligence, or if the tigers died due to any reason, I have ordered criminal action against those responsible,” Khandre said.

Sustained conservation efforts have led to a steady rebound of the big cats’ numbers in India. — AFP