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A 20-month-old female cheetah was found dead on Monday, with officials suspecting she was killed in a territorial clash with a leopard
The cheetah, born to Namibian cheetah Jwala, was discovered around 6:30 pm in the park’s forest area. (PTI file photo)
In a first-of-its-kind incident since the launch of Project Cheetah, a 20-month-old female cheetah was found dead in Kuno National Park on Monday. Officials suspect the young cheetah was killed in a territorial clash with a leopard.
The cheetah, born to Namibian cheetah Jwala, was discovered around 6:30 pm in the park’s forest area, according to a statement by Uttam Sharma, Field Director of the Cheetah Project.
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She was one of four cubs born in India after cheetahs were reintroduced to the country in 2022, marking the first time the species returned to Indian soil in over seven decades.
Had Separated From Mother Recently
The sub-adult cheetah had been released into the wild alongside her mother and siblings in February this year. However, she had reportedly separated from her mother more than a month ago and had also become independent of her siblings in recent days, The Times of India reported.
“Preliminary assessment points to a territorial clash with a leopard as the cause of death. A post-mortem examination will confirm details,” said Sharma.
Cheetah Numbers At Kuno Now 25
With the death of this sub-adult, Kuno now has 25 cheetahs—including nine adults (six females and three males) and 16 Indian-born individuals. Officials say the remaining cheetahs are healthy and doing well.
The reintroduction effort began in September 2022, when eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia. They were followed by 12 more from South Africa in February 2023, making it the first intercontinental relocation of big cats in the world.
(With inputs from PTI)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
Madhya Pradesh, India, India
September 16, 2025, 19:45 IST
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