World · India Bureau
Authorities launch crackdown after poaching death of young cheetah
Wildlife officials have intensified investigations following the fatal shooting of a 19-month-old cheetah that strayed from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The animal died despite emergency surgical intervention after being struck by five bullets.
LSN India ·
Authorities have initiated a major investigation after a young male cheetah, identified as KNG-22, was shot dead outside Kuno National Park's designated boundaries. The 19-month-old animal had ventured beyond the protected area when it sustained fatal injuries from gunshot wounds.
Post-mortem examination revealed five bullet fragments lodged in the cheetah's body, indicating the animal had been deliberately targeted. Despite immediate emergency surgical efforts to save the critically injured big cat, veterinary teams were unable to prevent its death.
The incident marks a significant setback for India's ambitious cheetah reintroduction program at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Officials have launched a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the poaching.
The death underscores ongoing challenges in protecting reintroduced wildlife populations as they expand beyond core park boundaries. Authorities are expected to strengthen anti-poaching measures and community awareness initiatives to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in the 1950s before the government initiated a reintroduction program to restore the species to Indian ecosystems in recent years.