No organised gang involved in hunting of Kuno cheetah, STF reveals

The Special Task Force (STF), investigating the murder of a male cheetah cub outside the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, made a significant revelation on Monday. According to an official statement issued by the STF member-secretary, no gang involved in organised wildlife crime or illegal wildlife trade is implicated in this incident. The investigation has clarified that the cheetah was killed solely with the intention of hunting for entertainment. Two brothers, Bhagwan Singh and Pritam Singh, have been arrested in this case, and a licensed double-barrel muzzle-loading gun, locally known as a 'bharmar' gun, used in the hunt has also been seized from them.

According to a report by The Hindu, the 19-month-old cheetah cub, named KNG22 and offspring of the South African cheetah 'Nirva', was found in critical condition in the Sheopur Forest Department on 25 October. There were five bullet marks on its body. The cheetah was found injured approximately 50 km away from Kuno National Park and was taken to Jabalpur for treatment, but it died during treatment on 27 October. This is the first incident since the launch of 'Project Cheetah' in September 2022 where a cheetah has been shot dead.

Following this tragic incident, a four-member STF comprising forest and police officers was formed. The STF conducted an extensive search operation in the forest with the help of Morena Police, Sheopur and Morena Forest Departments, the dog squad, and local intelligence networks. Based on the information obtained, Bhagwan Singh was arrested on 31 October. During interrogation, the accused confessed that on 24 October, 2026, he and his brother Pritam Singh had gone to the forest near Nitanwas village in the Vijaypur area of Sheopur district with the intention of hunting. There they spotted the cheetah, and Bhagwan Singh fired shots from his licensed gun, after which both fled the scene. Based on Bhagwan Singh's statement, the police also arrested his brother Pritam Singh.

Both the accused are residents of Navalpura-Behrada village in the Pahargadh sub-division of Morena district, which is connected to the border of Sheopur district. The STF took both accused to the crime scene for investigation and, based on their information, seized the gun used in the hunt from the forest of the Morena Forest Department. On Monday, both the accused were produced in court under Sections 9 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and sent to judicial custody. This incident has brought the history of cheetahs in India back into discussion. It is believed that the last three cheetahs of India were hunted by the Maharaja of Korea, Ramanuj Pratap Singh Dev, in 1947-48, following which the species was officially declared extinct in 1952.

Currently, the total number of cheetahs in India is 58, of which 52 cheetahs are in Kuno National Park. Project Cheetah was launched on 17 September, 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first eight cheetahs brought from Namibia into Kuno. Subsequently, 20 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in February 2023. This year, following President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Botswana in February, nine cheetahs were also brought from there. Since the start of the project, 41 cheetahs have been born in India, while 26 cheetahs have died. KNG22 is the first cheetah to be killed by gunfire.

The Forest Department is now developing more habitats to diversify the cheetah population. Currently, four cheetahs are roaming in a 64 sq km fenced area in the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary spread across Mandasaur and Neemuch districts. Earlier this month, two cheetahs were released into the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Sagar district, which has become the third home for the species.