Centre deputes high-level team to probe Kuno cheetah’s death from firearm pellet injuries
A central team will investigate the death of the 19-month-old male and review protection measures, alongside a state task force comprising forest and police officers.
An African cheetah at Kuno National Park. (Representational image) Photo credit: wildenthusiast.com
NEW DELHI: The Union Government has deputed a high-level central team to investigate the death of a 19-month-old male cheetah from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh after veterinary surgeons recovered five firearm pellets from its body.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said on Wednesday that the team would examine the circumstances surrounding the death, assess available evidence and coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.
The cheetah, identified as KNG22 and an offspring of Nirva, was found injured on October 25 in the territorial forests of Morena, outside Kuno National Park’s protected area.
According to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department’s account cited by the ministry, the animal was rescued from the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division the same day and taken to a veterinary facility in Jabalpur for intensive care and emergency surgery.
Surgeons recovered five firearm pellets during the operation. Despite treatment, the cheetah died on October 27. Medical examinations confirmed multiple internal injuries associated with the pellets, the ministry said.
The central team comprises the Inspector General of Forests from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the bureau’s Regional Deputy Director.
Madhya Pradesh has already constituted a Special Task Force comprising forest and police officers to investigate the incident. The central team will work with the state authorities and examine security protocols, monitoring arrangements and protection measures to help prevent similar incidents.
The team will submit its findings and recommendations to the ministry for further directions to the state government and field authorities.
The ministry said the incident warranted a thorough investigation given the importance of Project Cheetah and the need to protect the reintroduced population.
