Mumbai, September 15: Young leopard cub, Suraj from Sanjay Gandhi National Park's leopard rescue centre died after suffering an acute illness on Tuesday night, Park officials said.

SGNP director and chief conservator of forest, Anwar Ahmed said, “As of now, we are not sure about the exact cause of death. All we can say is poisoning cannot be ruled out. Another leopard at the park’s rescue centre is also ill, and we are monitoring the animal’s health. The situation is worrisome.” Baby Humboldt Penguin Born On August 15 Dies At Byculla Zoo in Mumbai

The leopard named Suraj was unable to support himself on both the back limbs, said the park’s veterinarian. “Suraj developed acute illness on Tuesday morning and was in a critical condition within a few hours. He died due to acute illness at 9.30pm Tuesday,” said SGNP veterinarian Dr Shailesh Pethe. After Penguins, BMC Plans Kangaroos, Giraffes, Jaguars for Mumbai Zoo

The cause of death according to the post-mortem report was ‘toxaemia accompanied by cardiorespiratory complications’ pathologists from the Bombay Veterinary College said.

Dr DP Kadam from pathology department said, “This generally means that blood poisoning from either a bacterial, microbial or chemical infection that led to the death.”

Borivali National park has sent Suraj’s visceral samples to the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories in Kalina for toxicology analysis.

A source from the National park said that another female cub named Tara "is a little down" but she is better now. Both the cubs were brought to SGNP’s rescue centre after their mother Abandoned them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 15, 2018 12:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).