Full Breakdown
Injured Cheetah Cub Triggers Poaching Probe in Madhya Pradesh
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On the evening of October 25, 2026, a 19-month-old male cheetah cub, born to Nirva at Kuno National Park (KNP), was found injured in the Pahargarh range of the Morena Territorial Forest Division, near the Sheopur border. Teams immobilised the animal and moved it to KNP for an initial exam, then to a veterinary facility in Jabalpur. Veterinarians found metal pellets in the abdomen, suggesting a close-range gunshot, though the exact cause is still under investigation.
Background & Context
Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, seeks to re-establish the species in India after its 1952 extinction. Eight cheetahs arrived from Namibia in September 2022, 20 from South Africa in February 2023, and nine from Botswana later that year. Estimates place the national cheetah population at 59, with 53 in KNP, of which 15 roam free. The Morena-Sheopur landscape has a recent history of leopard poaching, including a busted racket in July 2026.
Investigation and Official Response
The Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) was dispatched after the cub’s rescue, joined by a Special Task Force and a dog squad for forensic and ballistic analysis. Officials are examining possibilities such as a bharmar (muzzle-loading firearm), a 12-bore shotgun, a metal-rod impact, or an animal encounter. X-ray imaging and veterinary assessment are underway, with a specialist expected from Jabalpur.
KNP Field Director Uttam Kumar Sharma noted that the park’s jurisdiction ends at its boundaries, placing investigative responsibility on local forest authorities. Chief Wildlife Warden Samita Rajora highlighted the sensitivity of the Morena zone and said the investigation remains ongoing, with the cheetah’s condition to be reassessed after detailed examinations.
Criticism & Opposition
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey accused forest officials of negligence, arguing the injury reflects a failure to protect the animals despite prior warnings about poaching activity. He called for stronger enforcement against illegal hunting.
Data & Statistics
- Cheetah population: 59 (national) vs. 53 (KNP).
- Free-range individuals: 15 in KNP.
- Deaths in 2024: 7 cheetahs died from illness or animal attacks.
- Recent poaching incidents: 10 leopard skins seized on July 23; leopard-poaching gang arrested in July 2026.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the injury’s nature. Some describe visible back wounds suggesting a human-inflicted hit; others cite abdominal pellets indicating a shooting. Weapon identification remains pending, and motive—accidental, defensive, or poaching-related—has not been verified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The cheetah has sustained injuries on its back and is currently undergoing treatment. Prima facie, the wounds suggest it may have been hit by someone,” — Samita Rajora, Chief Wildlife Warden
- “This is pure negligence, and the fault rests with the Kuno National Park authorities.” — Uttam Kumar Sharma, KNP director
What’s Next
Forensic analysis and veterinary assessment are expected to clarify the injury within the next few days. Authorities have pledged to continue the STSF probe, coordinate with the state police’s Special Task Force, and issue further updates as findings emerge.