Action Taken After Death of Cheetah Cub in Kuno National Park

Shyopur, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : The tragic death of a 19-month-old male cheetah cub named KNG22 in Kuno National Park has prompted swift action from both the forest department and police. The cub, which belonged to the female cheetah Nirva, was shot on October 25. In response, six forest officials have been suspended, and FIRs have been filed against eight suspects.

The Morena police have arrested two individuals in connection with the incident. Additionally, reports indicate that the Special Task Force (STF) is questioning three other suspects. A high-level team from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has also arrived to investigate the matter.

Uttam Sharma, the director of Kuno National Park, issued a detailed press statement on the limitations of satellite tracking technology used for wildlife monitoring. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey criticized Sharma’s explanation, demanding his removal from office.

The cub was found severely injured in compartment number 748 of the Shyopur Territorial Forest Division. After being rescued, it was taken to the Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur. A CT scan revealed significant damage to its internal organs, muscles, bones, and nervous system. During emergency surgery, five bullet fragments were removed from its body, but sadly, it died on the morning of October 27 despite all efforts.

Given the seriousness of the incident, the central government dispatched a three-member team of senior officials from the NTCA and WCCB to investigate the scene, examine available evidence, and review safety protocols and monitoring systems. The Madhya Pradesh government has also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) involving forest department and police officials.

The Chief Conservator of Forests for the Gwalior division suspended six forest employees due to negligence in the protection and monitoring of the cheetahs. Among those suspended are ranger Jahar Singh Gaur from Vijaypur and ranger Akash Tomar from Pahadgarh, along with other field staff.

Eight suspects have been named in the FIR, and the Morena police have reported the recovery of weapons linked to the case. Forensic analysis will determine if the recovered firearms are connected to the bullets that injured the cheetah.

In his press statement, Director Sharma explained that satellite collars provide location data for the cheetahs approximately every six hours. If a location is missed, the interval between two successful signals can exceed 12 hours due to factors such as dense forests and rugged terrain.

Sharma noted that around 15 cheetahs are monitored using satellite tracking and VHF radio receivers. These animals typically travel 6 to 8 kilometers daily, with some covering distances of up to 15 kilometers or more. Each satellite collar costs between 400,000 to 500,000 rupees, and they do not provide live feeds but rather send geographic locations at set intervals.

Ajay Dubey responded sharply to Sharma’s statement, calling it a “decorative statement from a failed officer.” He highlighted previous incidents during Sharma’s tenure, including the deaths of two sniffer dogs and the poaching of several leopards in the Kuno landscape. Dubey also referred to an incident in 2021 involving a radio-collared tiger’s poaching when Sharma was the field director at Panna Tiger Reserve. He reiterated his demand for Sharma’s removal, warning that without action, the remaining cheetahs in Kuno could also be at risk.