GUWAHATI: The Union Government has deputed a high-level central team to investigate the death of a 19-month-old male cheetah after five firearm pellets were recovered from its body in Madhya Pradesh.
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The cheetah, identified as KNG22, was an offspring of female cheetah Nirva and died on Tuesday, October 27, despite intensive veterinary care and emergency surgery.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 28, the central team will investigate the circumstances leading to the cheetah’s death and examine the available evidence.
“The Centre has deputed a high-level team for an on-ground investigation into the incident, given the critical importance of Project Cheetah and the need to ensure the highest standards of protection for the reintroduced population of the Big Cat", the press relese said.
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 WCCB’s Regional Deputy Director.
The Madhya Pradesh government has already constituted a Special Task Force (STF), comprising forest and police officers, to investigate the incident.
The cheetah was found injured on October 25 in the territorial forests of Morena, outside the protected area of Kuno National Park. It was rescued the same day and taken for treatment at a veterinary facility in Jabalpur.
During emergency surgery, five firearm pellets were recovered from its body. Medical examinations also confirmed multiple internal injuries associated with the pellets.
The Centre’s team will work in coordination with the state authorities and examine the implementation of existing security protocols, monitoring systems and protection measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, India’s cheetah population stands at 58 following the death of KNG22. Of these, 52 are at Kuno National Park, four at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and two at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, all in Madhya Pradesh.
India launched Project Cheetah in September 2022 with the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia. Another 12 were brought from South Africa in February 2023, followed by nine from Botswana in February 2026.
According to the recent figures, 41 cheetah births have taken place in India so far.
Earlier this month, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav released two cheetahs, Vyom and Neera, into Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district, making it the third location in the state to house cheetahs.
