Kampala - A total of 11 lions, including eight lion cubs, have been found dead in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. The beasts are suspected to be poisoned.
Conservation officials said three lionesses and eight lion boys were found dead near the fishing village of Hamukungu in the national park which is a popular tourist destination.
"The investigation has started but we suspect it is poisoned," said Bashir Hangi, communications official at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as quoted by AFP news agency on Friday (13/4/2018).
"It's still just suspicion, we'll try to find out the exact cause of death," he added.
The lions have died in a number of poisoning incidents in Uganda. In May 2010, five lions died in the same park. The animals were also suspected of being poisoned.
Between May 2006 and July 2007, 15 lions also died in the area in attacks by pastoralists who defended their livestock.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 600 species of birds and about 100 mammals including buffaloes, elephants, hyenas and others.