Cheetah KNG22 shot dead in MP: SIT formed after pellets found in cub
Synopsis
A 19-month-old male cheetah named KNG22 — part of India's hard-won reintroduction programme — was shot at close range and died on 27 October after surgeons removed five shotgun pellets from its body. Madhya Pradesh has formed an SIT, but the killing exposes a critical gap: India's cheetahs are not safe once they stray beyond protected park boundaries.
Key Takeaways
KNG22 , a 19-month-old male cheetah , died at 5:10 AM on 27 October at NDVSU, Jabalpur .
Five shotgun pellets were surgically removed; a CT scan confirmed metallic fragments near the spine and damage to internal organs and the nervous system.
The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted an SIT of forest and police officials to probe the shooting.
The cub was recovered on 25 October from compartment 748, Sheopur Forest Division .
India's total cheetah count now stands at 58 — 52 at Kuno National Park, 4 at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and 2 at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
Earlier reports suggested a livestock-conflict motive; medical evidence confirms the animal was shot at close range, shifting the nature of the investigation.
A 19-month-old male cheetah, identified as KNG22, died in the early hours of 27 October after five shotgun pellets were surgically removed from its body, prompting the Madhya Pradesh government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of forest and police officials to probe what is now confirmed as a shooting. The cheetah's death has raised serious questions about the security of India's reintroduced cheetah population outside protected reserves.
How KNG22 Was Found and What the Surgery Revealed
The cub was rescued in an injured condition on 25 October from compartment number 748 of the Sheopur Forest Division. An initial examination and X-ray revealed the presence of foreign objects in multiple parts of its body. The animal was subsequently transferred to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology at Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University (NDVSU) in Jabalpur for advanced care.
A CT scan confirmed multiple metallic fragments near the spine and in other areas, which had caused extensive damage to internal organs, musculature, the skeletal structure, and the nervous system. During emergency surgery supervised by senior veterinary experts, five shotgun pellets were removed from the body. Despite being placed under intensive care, KNG22 suffered paralysis in both hind legs and neurological impairment, and succumbed at 5:10 AM on 27 October.
SIT Constituted; Security Gaps Under Scrutiny
The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team comprising forest and police officials to conduct a detailed probe. According to a government statement, preliminary findings confirming the cheetah was shot have raised serious concerns about security arrangements for animals that move outside Kuno National Park. Authorities have assured that the investigation will establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and fix accountability.
Notably, earlier reports had suggested the injury may have stemmed from a confrontation with villagers following an alleged livestock-attack incident involving a female cheetah cub in the Morena area. Medical examination, however, confirmed that KNG22 had been shot at close range — a finding that significantly alters the character of the inquiry.
India's Cheetah Count Now Stands at 58
With the death of KNG22, the total number of cheetahs in India has fallen to 58. Of these, 52 are housed at Kuno National Park, four at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and two at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. India reintroduced cheetahs in September 2022 after the species had been declared locally extinct for over seven decades, making every loss a significant setback for the programme.
What Happens Next
The SIT is expected to reconstruct the sequence of events from the time KNG22 left protected territory to the point it was found injured in the Sheopur Forest Division. Wildlife conservationists and legal experts are likely to push for charges under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, under which killing or injuring a Schedule I species carries stringent penalties. The incident is also expected to trigger a review of buffer-zone monitoring protocols around Kuno and other cheetah habitats.
Point of View
Yet it has no credible security architecture for animals that stray outside park limits. The shift from 'livestock conflict' to 'shot at close range' in the official narrative within 48 hours suggests early information management. The SIT must answer not just who pulled the trigger, but why a cheetah cub could be fatally shot in a forest compartment with no intervention until it was already dying. With only 58 cheetahs remaining in the country, the margin for such failures is near zero.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to cheetah KNG22 in Madhya Pradesh?
KNG22, a 19-month-old male cheetah, was shot at close range and died on 27 October at NDVSU in Jabalpur after five shotgun pellets were removed from its body during emergency surgery. The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted an SIT to investigate the killing.
Where was KNG22 found and which park did it belong to?
The cub was rescued on 25 October from compartment number 748 of the Sheopur Forest Division in Madhya Pradesh. It was part of India's cheetah reintroduction programme centred at Kuno National Park.
How many cheetahs does India have after the death of KNG22?
India's cheetah population now stands at 58, with 52 at Kuno National Park, four at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and two at Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.
What was the initial theory about KNG22's injuries, and how did it change?
Early reports suggested the cheetah may have been injured in a confrontation with villagers following an alleged livestock attack by a female cheetah cub in the Morena area. However, medical examination confirmed KNG22 had been shot at close range, fundamentally changing the focus of the investigation.
What legal action can be taken against those responsible for killing KNG22?
Cheetahs are a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prescribes the most stringent penalties for killing or injuring protected animals. The SIT is expected to fix responsibility and authorities have stated the investigation will establish the full circumstances of the shooting.
