Three cubs – two leopards and one tiger - were killed in two separate incidents in The Nilgiris and their carcasses were discovered on Friday morning.

According to officials, two leopard cubs were run over by a speeding vehicle along the Devala to Pandalur road. The carcasses were found at around 6.30 a.m. on Friday and Forest Department staff from the Pandalur forest range were informed of the incident. A post-mortem on the remains of the two cubs was performed, and a case has been registered in the Pandalur forest division.

Officials said that they are looking through CCTV footage in the vicinity and along the route to identify the vehicles that passed through the area to identify the driver of the vehicle responsible for the collision.

Road kills have become a common hazard for animals living in the district. In the last few years, tigers, leopards, porcupines and leopard cats have all been victims of road kills in the district, with detection rates of the drivers responsible being very low. Conservationists called on the Forest Department to install more speed breakers along routes used by wildlife, and to sensitise drivers, especially tourist vehicles entering and exiting the district.

In a separate incident, a tiger cub was found dead in a stream near the Moyar Dam area in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). Officials said the cub had been seen over the last few days in a weakened state and suspect that it could have drowned in the river. A post-mortem was conducted and the cause of death was confirmed.