Madhya Pradesh cheetah death: Six forest staff suspended after five pellets found in cub's body

Bhopal: Six forest personnel, including two rangers, have been suspended following the shooting and death of KNG22, a 19-month-old male cub of female cheetah Nirva, in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district. The suspensions came on Friday, three days after the cheetah succumbed to its injuries at a veterinary facility in Jabalpur.

According to reports, Conservator of Forests (CF), Gwalior, Lavit Bharti, suspended the six personnel over alleged lapses in the protection and monitoring of the big cat.

Mathrubhumi English tried contacting Uttam Sharma, Field Director of Kuno National Park, for a comment but could not get through at the time of filing this report.

Mathrubhumi English could not independently verify the identities of all six suspended personnel. However, those reportedly suspended include a ranger posted at Pahargarh, a deputy ranger posted at Kanhar and a beat guard posted at Kalakhet, all under the Morena Forest Division. Another ranger posted at Vijaypur East in Sheopur is also among those suspended.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey took to social media on Friday, questioning why Kuno National Park's Field Director, Uttam Sharma, had not been suspended.

“6 forest staff suspended over cheetah hunt in Kuno. WHEN WILL FIELD DIRECTOR UTTAM SHARMA, KUNO NATIONAL PARK BE SUSPENDED? You can't make scapegoats of lower staff while the boss escapes accountability. #cheetah (SIC),” Dubey wrote on X.

Meanwhile, three suspects were reportedly taken into custody by the STF earlier on Friday. A forensic team is expected to visit the crime scene soon and recreate the sequence of events based on the statements of the suspects.

When contacted by Mathrubhumi English earlier regarding the detention of three suspects, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sameeta Rajora declined to comment, saying the investigation was underway and the STF would be in a position to provide information.

The investigation into the cheetah's death is being conducted by the state-constituted Special Task Force (STF), comprising forest and police officers. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also deputed a three-member central team to investigate the incident.

The central team comprises the Inspector General of Forests of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and the Regional Deputy Director of the WCCB.

According to the ministry, the team will investigate the circumstances leading to the cheetah's death, examine the available evidence and coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. It will also review the security protocols and monitoring and protection measures in place for cheetahs, and submit its findings and recommendations to the ministry.

The state STF has been directed to submit its report to the government within seven days of its constitution.

Five firearm pellets recovered from cheetah's body

KNG22, a radio-collared male cheetah born to Nirva, was found injured on October 25 in compartment number 748 of the Sheopur Territorial Forest Division, in the territorial forest landscape outside Kuno National Park's protected area.

The animal was rescued the same day and taken for treatment. Initial reports suggested that villagers had attacked the cheetah with sticks after it preyed on livestock. However, subsequent medical examinations established that the animal had sustained firearm injuries.

An initial X-ray and a subsequent CT scan conducted by the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology at Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur revealed foreign bodies that had damaged its internal organs, musculoskeletal system and nervous system.

During emergency surgery, veterinarians recovered five firearm pellets from the cheetah's body. Despite intensive veterinary care and surgical intervention, KNG22 died on October 27.

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department subsequently confirmed the death and the recovery of the pellets, establishing that the animal had sustained multiple internal injuries caused by firearm ammunition.

Investigators are now attempting to identify the weapon used in the shooting and establish who was responsible. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey had earlier claimed that a locally used bharmar gun may have been involved. However, the weapon has not been recovered, and its identity has not been officially established.

The incident has raised concerns over the protection of cheetahs moving beyond the boundaries of Kuno National Park into the surrounding territorial forest landscape.

With the state and central investigations now underway, officials are expected to examine not only the circumstances of the shooting but also potential lapses in the animal's monitoring and protection.