Gandhinagar, May 28 -- Gujarat Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia on Thursday said the deaths of lion cubs reported near the Gir Sanctuary were suspected to be from a "babysitter virus" caused by the Itardi parasite.

"As news of the deaths of lion cubs within a 10-kilometre radius of the Gir Sanctuary, within the Gadhada taluka of Gir Somnath district and the Babhariya area of Amreli district, was received, the Forest Department launched an investigation," Modhwadia said.

Samples of the deceased cubs have been sent to the Gujarat Biotechnological Research Centre in Gandhinagar, he added.

"The exact cause will be known later, but currently, treatment is underway based on the symptoms," the minister said.

"This is usually a babysitter viru...