Young India-Born Cheetah Dies After Suffering Gunshot Pellet Injuries in Madhya Pradesh

What Happened

A 19-month-old male cheetah cub died from firearm pellet wounds on October 27, 2026, at a veterinary facility in Jabalpur. The cub, named KNG22, was born in India to Nirva, a six-year-old South African cheetah brought to the country under Project Cheetah. Forest officials found the injured animal on October 25 in Compartment No. 748 of the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division, outside the protected area of Kuno National Park. Medical scans and emergency surgery at NDVSU in Jabalpur revealed severe damage to internal organs, the nervous system, and the musculoskeletal system, with doctors recovering five firearm pellets from his body.

Investigation and Current Count

The Union government has sent a high-level team to investigate the incident on the ground, including the Inspector General of Forests from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and the Regional Deputy Director of the WCCB. The Madhya Pradesh government has also formed a Special Task Force of forest and police officers to probe the death. Meanwhile, official figures show India's total cheetah population stands at 58, with 52 in Kuno National Park, four in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and two in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

Context

Project Cheetah is India's ambitious wildlife reintroduction initiative aimed at bringing the species back after it was declared extinct in the country decades ago. As young male cheetahs begin exploring areas outside protected zones like Kuno National Park, they increasingly encounter human settlements and potential conflicts. This ongoing expansion into wider territorial forests highlights the delicate balance required between wildlife conservation and human activities in surrounding rural landscapes.