Namibian cheetah Gaurav, a 10-year-old male, died at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on 21 September 2026 at around 4 p.m. He had been under treatment in a Quarantine Boma at Palpur for about 10 days after forest officials found him weak and dull on 12 September 2026.
Cheetah Reintroduction in India
India launched the cheetah reintroduction project with translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia in 2022. The project brought the African cheetah back to India after the species became extinct in the country in 1952.
Kuno National Park and Cheetah Population
Kuno National Park is located in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh and serves as the main site for India’s cheetah reintroduction programme. After Gaurav’s death, the park housed 51 cheetahs, including 36 Indian-born cheetahs, and India’s total cheetah population stood at 55.
Medical Examination and Post-mortem Process
Gaurav was found to be markedly weak, with visible muscle wasting and severe dehydration. Officials suspected an underlying chronic condition, and the exact cause of death is to be determined through post-mortem examination and sample analysis.
Important Facts for Exams
- The cheetah is the fastest land animal and can reach speeds of about 100 km per hour in short bursts.
- The scientific name of the cheetah is Acinonyx jubatus.
- Kuno National Park was notified as a national park in Madhya Pradesh in 2018.
- The cheetah reintroduction project in India involves African cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa.
