KNG22’s Death Prompts Central and State Inquiries

A 19-month-old cheetah died after veterinarians removed five firearm pellets from its body, prompting separate investigations by India’s central government and Madhya Pradesh state authorities. The cheetah, identified as KNG22, was found injured on October 25 in the Morena territorial forest, outside the protected area of Kuno National Park. Madhya Pradesh Forest Department personnel rescued him and took him to a veterinary facility in Jabalpur, where emergency surgery removed the pellets. Medical examinations found multiple internal injuries associated with them. KNG22 died on October 27. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change assigned a central team to investigate the circumstances of the death, examine available evidence and review security procedures and monitoring and protection arrangements. The team includes an Inspector General of Forests from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Additional Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the bureau’s Regional Deputy Director. It is to coordinate with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and submit findings and recommendations to the ministry. Madhya Pradesh has also formed a Special Task...