Junagadh, Mar 7 (UNI) The puzzle behind the killing of two lioness and a cub inside the protected area of the Gir Sanctuary in Junagadh district remains unsolved with the conservator of forest admitting that there has been no progress in the investigation.

''No arrests have been made so far and investigation is underway,'' conservator of forest Bharat Pathak told UNI.

''The mauled and mangled carcasses of the big cats and a cub were found on March 3, and the incident is belived to have occurred around March 1,'' Mr Pathak said.

''We came to know about the killing from an informer, who told us that he had seen the carcasses lying on the Babaria-Una road, which passes through the Gir Sanctuary and is open to visitors all day.

The area falls under the jurisdiction of Jamwala Assistant Conservator of Forests headquarters in Gir (West) forest division,'' said Mr Pathak.

''A special investigation team was formed by the Forest Department to probe the killings, and the Chief Wildlife Warden (Gujarat) has declared a reward of Rs 5,000 for information regarding the incident,'' added Mr Pathak.

Officials say that this is the first time it has happened within the protected area, though there have been instances of lions being poisoned or electrocuted in areas around the sanctuary.

UNI