Cheetah killed outside Kuno National Park: Two brothers arrested, firearm recovered
Bhopal: Two brothers have been arrested for allegedly shooting a 19-month-old cheetah in Madhya Pradesh, following an investigation by the state's Special Task Force (STF). The accused have been identified as Bhagwan Singh and Pritam Singh, residents of Morena district.
According to the STF, the brothers were hunting in the forest near Nitanwas village in Vijaypur, Sheopur district, when they allegedly shot the male cheetah, KNG-22. Investigators said Bhagwan Singh was arrested on October 31, and information obtained during questioning led to his brother's arrest.
Firearm recovered during investigation
The STF said Bhagwan Singh allegedly told investigators that the cheetah was shot using a licensed double-barrelled country firearm. The two men reportedly fled after the incident.
The accused later accompanied investigators to the location, where the weapon was recovered from a forest area in Morena district. A case has been registered against both brothers under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The STF said its investigation had not found evidence so far linking the killing to illegal wildlife trade or an organised wildlife crime network.
How did the cheetah die?
KNG-22 was born to female cheetah Nirva and was found injured by a monitoring team on October 25 in the territorial forest division of Morena, outside Kuno National Park.
The animal was taken to Kuno that night before being shifted to Jabalpur for specialised treatment. A CT scan revealed injuries to its internal organs, musculoskeletal system and nervous system.
Despite medical treatment, the cheetah died early on October 27. During emergency surgery, doctors recovered five pellets from its body.
Before the arrests, investigators questioned around 20 people and searched several locations in the Morena-Sheopur region. They also examined data from KNG-22's radio collar to trace its movements before it was found injured.
The Madhya Pradesh government had formed a four-member task force comprising forest and police officials on October 27 to investigate the shooting.
The Union Environment Ministry also sent a three-member team from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to examine the circumstances of the incident and security arrangements for cheetahs moving outside protected areas.
India's cheetah population after KNG-22's death
KNG-22's death brought India's cheetah population down to 58, according to the report. This includes 52 cheetahs at Kuno National Park, four at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and two at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
India's cheetah reintroduction programme aims to establish a viable population of the species after it was declared extinct in the country in 1952.
The death of KNG-22 highlights the risks faced by cheetahs when they move beyond protected areas into forests and human-inhabited landscapes. Monitoring, habitat protection and coordination between forest and police authorities are important for their safety.
The incident also raises questions about preventing hunting and improving surveillance in areas where cheetahs roam outside designated reserves. The arrests mark progress in the investigation, but the wider challenge remains ensuring that animals can move safely between habitats.