New Delhi, 28 October (H.S.): The Centre has dispatched 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 injuries from gunshot pellets. The team will examine the site, establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and assess the available evidence. The Centre has also directed officials to coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department to ensure prompt and stringent action in the case.

According to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the central 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 a Regional Deputy Director. The team will assist the state government in its investigation and review the protocols, monitoring systems and conservation measures in place to protect cheetahs, with the aim of preventing similar incidents in the future.

The ministry said the 19-month-old male cheetah, an offspring of Nirva, was found injured on October 25 in the territorial forest area of Morena, outside the protected area of Kuno National Park. The animal was subsequently transported from the Sheopur territorial forest division to a veterinary facility in Jabalpur on the same day.

The cheetah received intensive medical care and underwent emergency surgery, during which five gunshot pellets were removed from its body. Despite these efforts, the animal died on October 27. A medical examination confirmed multiple internal injuries caused by the gunshot pellets.

The Madhya Pradesh government has already constituted a special task force (STF), comprising forest and police officials, to investigate the incident. The central team will work in coordination with the state’s investigating agencies and submit its findings and recommendations to the ministry, which will issue further directions based on the report.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar