A five-month-old cheetah cub died at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on Monday, wildlife officials said.
The cub was born to a cheetah named Gamini, which was among those brought to Kuno from Africa. Gamini had given birth to six cubs in March, and in June, it had lost its first cub.
Officials said that during routine monitoring on July 29, they saw the cub that died on Monday being seemingly “unable to lift the hind portion of its body”.
“On further observation, the cub was seen dragging the entire hind portion of its body. It was immediately rescued and brought to the hospital. There, it was found that the cub’s vertebral column was fractured,” an official said.
Acting Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Subharanjan Sen told The Indian Express: “We must wait for Kuno officials to ascertain how the cub sustained the injury. We have heard that the cub probably sustained the injury while playing with its siblings.”
On Monday morning, the cub’s health suddenly worsened, leading to its death even though it was given emergency treatment.
“The cause of death will be known after autopsy. The remaining 13 adult cheetahs and 12 cubs are healthy and normal. Adult cheetahs have been given necessary treatment for prevention of tick and other parasitic infections. All cheetahs are being monitored regularly,” an official statement read.
On September 17, 2022, eight Namibian cheetahs – five females and three males – were released into enclosures at Kuno National Park. In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs were brought from South Africa.
Now, only 13 of the adult cheetahs survive. Along with their 12 surviving cubs, the total cheetah population of Kuno stands at 25.
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