Chennai, Sep 10 (PTI) A field study is on to ascertain if the two tigresses that were found dead in Nilgiris district were poisoned, a top forest official said on Sunday.

Referring to the death of the two tigresses, Conservator of Forests (Nilgiris) and Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, D Venkatesh said a 20-member team has been constituted in this regard.

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In an official release, the official said the team, led by Assistant Conservator of Forests (Headquarters), Devaraj is studying areas in and around the spot where the carcasses were found. "Field audit is being done to see if the two tigresses were poisoned."

Amid speculation that the tigresses could have been poisoned to death, the official said the cause of death of the animals would be known only following completion of autopsy.

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Two tigresses were found dead under mysterious circumstances in the Avalanche forest area in Nilgiris district on September 9.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)