Five Pellets Found in Young Cheetah, Centre Orders Probe Into Death

The Union Government has ordered a central investigation into the death of a 19-month-old male cheetah from Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park after surgeons recovered five firearm pellets from its body.

The cheetah, identified as KNG22 and born to Nirva, was found injured outside Kuno’s protected area on October 25. It died on October 27 despite intensive veterinary treatment and emergency surgery at a facility in Jabalpur, according to a government press release cited by ANI.

Medical examinations confirmed multiple internal injuries associated with the pellets, the release said.

Central Team to Examine Evidence

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has deputed a team comprising the Inspector General of Forests at the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the bureau’s Regional Deputy Director.

The team will investigate the circumstances leading to the cheetah’s death, examine available evidence and coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.

Its mandate also includes reviewing security protocols and the monitoring and protection measures in place for the reintroduced cheetah population.

The Centre said the incident required a thorough investigation given the importance of Project Cheetah and the protection of the animals brought back under the programme.

Injured Outside Kuno

According to the release, the young cheetah was found injured in the territorial forests of Morena, beyond Kuno National Park’s protected boundary.

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department reported that it was rescued from the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division on October 25 and subsequently received intensive care in Jabalpur.

Surgeons removed five firearm pellets during the emergency operation. The animal died two days after its rescue.

The release did not identify a suspect or specify the circumstances in which the cheetah sustained the injuries.

State Task Force Also Investigating

The Madhya Pradesh government has separately constituted a Special Task Force comprising forest and police officers to investigate the incident.

The central team will work alongside the state authorities and assess measures needed to prevent similar incidents. It will submit its findings and recommendations to the ministry, which will issue further directions to the state government and field officials.

The investigation will examine both the fatal injuries and the protection arrangements for cheetahs moving beyond the national park.

With inputs from ANI