Gunshot Death of Kuno Cheetah Triggers Central Inquiry

A high-level central team has been dispatched to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh to investigate the death of a 19-month-old male cheetah, KNG22, which was killed by a gunshot. The Centre has described the case as extremely grave and has pledged a firm response.

The government underlined that Project Cheetah holds significant importance. It said that maintaining the highest protection standards for the cheetahs brought back to India is essential.

The team includes the Inspector General of Forests from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), along with an Additional Director and a Regional Deputy Director from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). Its responsibilities include a detailed probe into how the cheetah died, a review of all relevant evidence, and coordination with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department to ensure strict and quick action.

The cheetah was a cub of 'Nirva'. On October 25, it was discovered injured in a forest area in Morena, outside the protected zone of Kuno National Park. The forest department said it was rescued that same day from the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division and taken to Jabalpur, where it underwent intensive treatment and emergency surgery.

During the operation, doctors removed five bullets from the animal's body. Medical examination established that the gunshots had caused several internal injuries. Despite sustained efforts, the cheetah died on October 27.

The state government had already set up a Special Task Force (STF) made up of forest and police officers to investigate the matter. The central team, deployed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will work together with state authorities.

The team will also verify the security protocols in use and the monitoring and safety arrangements being carried out to prevent such incidents. It will submit its report and recommendations to the ministry, which will then issue directions to the state government and field officers.