Another cheetah dies at Kuno; 2nd fatality in 3 weeks

New Delhi: Namibian cheetah Pawan died in the wild at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, the state’s forest department said.

The department said preliminary cause of the death seemed to be drowning. The exact details would be revealed only after a post-mortem, it said. The fatality at the park was reported weeks after a five-month-old cub of African cheetah Gamini died on August 5.

“Male cheetah Pawan was found lying near the edge of a swollen nullah amidst bushes around 10.30 am on Tuesday. Veterinarians were informed and a closer inspection disclosed that the front half of the carcass, including head, was inside the water. No external injuries were found,” said Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Uttam Sharma. After Pawan’s death, Kuno park is left with 24 cheetahs, including 12 adults and as many cubs.