Centre Orders Probe into Cheetah’s Death in Madhya Pradesh
A high-level team will investigate firearm pellet injuries that killed a 19-month-old cheetah at Kuno National Park and review wildlife protection measures.
- Centre deploys a high-level team to investigate the cheetah’s death.
- Five firearm pellets were recovered during emergency surgery.
- Madhya Pradesh has formed a Special Task Force of forest and police officers.
- Probe will review security protocols and recommend further protective measures.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 28th Oct: The Union Government has deputed a high-level team to investigate the death of a 19-month-old male cheetah at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh after it sustained firearm pellet injuries. The Centre has taken serious note of the incident and ordered an on-ground investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.
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.
The team will examine available evidence, coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and recommend action based on its findings. It will also review existing security protocols and monitoring arrangements to help prevent similar incidents.
Cheetah Found Injured in Morena Forests
The 19-month-old cheetah, identified as KNG22 and an offspring of cheetah Nirva, was found injured on October 25 in the territorial forests of Morena, outside Kuno National Park’s protected area.
According to the state forest department, the animal was rescued from the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division on the same day and taken to a veterinary facility in Jabalpur for intensive treatment and emergency surgery.
During the surgery, veterinarians recovered five firearm pellets from the cheetah’s body. Despite medical intervention, the animal died on October 27. Medical examinations confirmed multiple internal injuries associated with the recovered pellets.
State Forms Special Task Force
The Madhya Pradesh government has already constituted a Special Task Force comprising forest and police officers to investigate the incident.
The central team, deputed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will work alongside the state authorities. Its investigation will cover the circumstances leading to the cheetah’s death, available evidence and the effectiveness of measures in place to protect the reintroduced cheetah population.
The team will submit its findings and recommendations to the ministry, which will issue further directions to the state government and field authorities.
The investigation comes amid the importance of Project Cheetah, which aims to establish and protect a population of cheetahs in India. The Centre has stressed the need for stringent protection measures to safeguard the animals.
