Mysuru: Forest Department has on its shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding the animals in their range. However, in a rather shocking incident, the condition of three cubs that were rescued by the forest officials recently is sinking, thanks to the hands that rescued them. In what can be called glaring dereliction of duty by the forest officials, even after four days of rescue, the officials have not forwarded the rescued cubs to the Mysuru Zoo for rehabilitation and care. The young ones of a leopard were rescued at Varkodu village in Mysuru Range and though the rescued cubs should have been send to Mysuru zoo and rescue centre at Koorgalli, the department, for reasons best known to them has retained the cubs at Aranya Bhavan.

Housed in packaging box made up of cardboard over the last four days, they are being bottle fed. No veterinarian doctors have attended these cubs. If the authorities failed to shift these cubs to zoo or rescue centre at the earliest, survival of these cubs will be a distant possibility.

According to sources, the cubs were taken by officials on Wednesday after being intimated by locals about them, but prior to that, on Monday, a three-year-old leopard, suspected to be the mother of the cubs too was captured by the forest officials at the very same location where the cubs were rescued. However, they had later released the female leopard to Bandipur forest on Tuesday.

According to experts, leopard cubs need atleast three months proper nourishment and care. If neglected, they get infected and their chances of survival may be vague.

Both DCF (Wildlife) Karikalan and Mysuru Zoo Executive Director Kamala Karikalan did not respond even after repeated calls. However, the locals are questioning as to why the Karikalan couple have not taken necessary steps to save the lives of the three precious cubs.