Central government constitutes high-level team to probe cheetah's death

The Central government has taken extremely seriously the tragic death of a 19-month-old male cheetah (KNG22) living in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park due to injuries sustained from gunshot pellets. Keeping in view the importance of Project Cheetah and the need to ensure the highest standards of safety for the reintroduced cheetahs, the Central government has sent a high-level central team to conduct an on-the-spot investigation into this incident. According to PIB, all aspects of the incident will be investigated by this team.

The central team includes 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. This team has been entrusted with the responsibility to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the cheetah's death, examine all available evidence, and closely coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department to ensure strict and swift action in the matter.

The dead cheetah, named KNG22, was a cub of Nirvaano, a female cheetah of Kuno National Park. On 25 October 2026, it was found in an injured condition outside the protected area of Kuno National Park in the regional forests of Morena. According to an NDTV report, the monitoring team had received information that the animal was injured in compartment number 748 of the Sheopur regional forest division. According to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, it was rescued from the Sheopur regional forest division on the same day.

Subsequently, the cheetah was taken to a veterinary facility in Jabalpur to provide intensive veterinary care and emergency surgery. It was examined in detail at the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology of Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University. Initial X-rays revealed the presence of foreign objects at various places in the body. Then, after consulting with experts, a CT scan was conducted, which revealed that these objects had damaged the cheetah's internal organs, musculoskeletal system, and nervous system.

During emergency surgery, five gunshot pellets were recovered from the cheetah's body. According to a statement by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Dr. Samita Rajora, despite continuous efforts and surgery by the veterinary team, this male cheetah could not be saved. Medical examination confirmed multiple internal injuries associated with the gunshot pellets. Finally, on 27 October 2026, the cheetah succumbed to its injuries.

The state government has constituted a Special Task Force (STF) comprising forest and police officials to investigate this incident. The central team appointed by MoEFCC will work in conjunction with the state machinery. This team will also examine the implementation of security protocols as well as the monitoring and protective measures currently undertaken to prevent any such incident in the future. The central team will submit its findings and recommendations to the ministry so that necessary further directions can be given to the state government and field officials.

The exact causes of the injuries have not been established by the investigation so far, but officials are probing all possible aspects of the incident. Due to this tragic incident, the total population of cheetahs in India has decreased to 58. According to these figures, 52 cheetahs are in Kuno National Park alone in Madhya Pradesh, 4 cheetahs in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and 2 cheetahs in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.