New Delhi, 28 October (H.S.): The Central government has dispatched a high-level team to investigate the death of a 19-month-old male cheetah from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh after five firearm pellets were recovered from its body during emergency surgery.

The cheetah, identified as KNG22 and an offspring of female cheetah Nirva, was found injured in the territorial forests of Morena district on October 25. Despite intensive treatment and surgery at a veterinary facility in Jabalpur, the animal succumbed to its injuries on October 27.

The central team comprises officials from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). It will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident in coordination with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and review existing security arrangements.

The team includes the Inspector General of Forests from the NTCA, the Additional Director of the WCCB and the bureau’s Regional Deputy Director. It has been tasked with examining the available evidence, determining the circumstances that led to the cheetah’s death and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the cheetah was rescued from the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division on October 25 and provided emergency veterinary care. Following an initial examination, it was shifted to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology at Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur for specialised treatment.

During emergency surgery, veterinarians recovered five firearm pellets from the animal’s body. Medical examinations also revealed extensive damage to its internal organs, musculoskeletal system and nervous system.

The Madhya Pradesh government has separately constituted a Special Task Force (STF) comprising forest and police officials to investigate the incident.

The central team will also review the implementation of existing security protocols, monitoring systems and wildlife protection measures in and around the national park. It will submit its findings and recommendations to the Union Environment Ministry for further action.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar