Morena: The Union government has deployed a high-level central team to Madhya Pradesh to investigate the death of a 19-month-old male cheetah, KNG22, of Kuno National Park, which died of firearm pellet injuries, ANI reported on Wednesday, citing an official press release. The Centre said it had taken serious note of the death, given the critical importance of Project Cheetah and the need to ensure the highest standards of protection for the reintroduced population.

Source: ANI via Devdiscourse

The team comprises the Inspector General of Forests from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Regional Deputy Director of the WCCB. It has been tasked with a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death, examining all available evidence and coordinating closely with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department to ensure strict and swift action.

KNG22, an offspring of the cheetah Nirva, was found injured on October 25 in the territorial forests of Morena, outside the protected area of Kuno National Park, and was rescued from compartment number 748 of the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division the same day. He was shifted to the Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University (NDVSU) in Jabalpur for intensive care, where emergency surgery recovered five firearm pellets from his body. Despite the treatment, he died on the morning of October 27, with medical examinations corroborating multiple internal injuries, including paralysis of both hind legs, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

Madhya Pradesh has also constituted a special investigation team into the killing. Preliminary findings indicating that the cheetah was shot have raised serious questions about security arrangements for animals moving outside Kuno National Park, a government statement said. Earlier reports had suggested the injuries might have followed a confrontation with villagers after a livestock incident in the Morena area, but medical examination confirmed the animal had been shot, according to IANS.

Following KNG22's death, the total number of cheetahs in India stands at 58 — 52 at Kuno National Park, four at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and two at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.