Cheetah cub dies in suspected shooting at Kuno National Park

A 19-month-old male cheetah cub has died at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park following a suspected shooting. The cub, an offspring of the female cheetah Nirva, was found with three to four metal pellets lodged in its abdomen. Despite being moved to a medical facility in Jabalpur for advanced treatment, the animal succumbed to its injuries.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident, alleging negligence by the forest department and demanding the removal of key officials. This marks the first reported shooting incident involving a cheetah since the species was reintroduced to India in 2022 under Project Cheetah.

In a separate incident in the Sheopur district, two cheetahs killed two cattle calves near a residence in Bamori village. The event has caused panic among local farmers who fear venturing into fields at night. Forest officials have urged residents to remain calm, stating that cheetahs do not target humans, and have deployed the Special Tiger Strike Force to monitor the area.