Namibian cheetah dies in M.P.'s Kuno National Park during treatment
A 10-year-old Namibian cheetah named Gaurav died in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park while undergoing treatment for weakness and dehydration. This incident brings the total cheetah population in Kuno to 51, with 55 cheetahs now in India across all sanctuaries.
Why it matters
This death is a setback for India's ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, highlighting the challenges and fragility of establishing a new population and underscoring the ongoing efforts in wildlife conservation.
Namibian cheetah Gaurav died in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on Monday (September 21, 2026) evening while undergoing treatment, an official said.
Ten-year-old Gaurav was rescued from the wild on September 12 after he was observed to be weak and dull.
“On examination, he was found to be markedly weak, with visible muscle wasting and severe dehydration. Immediate systemic and supportive treatment was provided, following which he was shifted to Palpur and kept in a Quarantine Boma (QB) for close observation and further management,” said the field director of the cheetah project.
The director said based on the preliminary clinical examination, an underlying chronic condition was suspected.
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