← 29 October 2026's Current Affairs · Environment GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
Kuno cheetah cub dies of gunshot injuries; Centre orders probe
Why in News?
Extinct in India since 1952, reintroduced in 2022: the Project Cheetah facts Kuno's cub death revives
Centre orders a probe after a Kuno cheetah cub is found dead of gunshot injuries.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 min read
A cheetah cub at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has died of gunshot injuries, and the Centre has ordered a probe.
Kuno is the site of Project Cheetah, under which cheetahs from Namibia were introduced in September 2022 to restore a species that became extinct in India in 1952.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- A cheetah cub at Kuno National Park (Madhya Pradesh) died of gunshot injuries; the Centre has ordered a probe.
- Project Cheetah aims to restore the cheetah, which became extinct in India in 1952.
- The first cheetahs were brought to Kuno from Namibia in September 2022.
- Later batches of cheetahs were brought from South Africa.
- Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh.
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- Statement: The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. (Correct)
- Statement: Under Project Cheetah, the first batch of cheetahs was translocated to Kuno National Park from Namibia in September 2022. (Correct)
- Statement: Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh. (Correct)
- Statement: Project Cheetah is an in-situ reintroduction of a species that had been locally extinct in India. (Correct)
Mains
GS3 (Environment - conservation): The death of a cub from gunshot injuries raises questions about protection of a flagship reintroduction programme. Examine the Project Cheetah framework, the protection regime under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the challenges of security, habitat, prey base and community relations around Kuno. The way forward lies in a transparent probe, stronger on-ground protection and monitoring, community engagement and science-based management of the cheetah population.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Under Project Cheetah, the first batch of cheetahs was brought to Kuno National Park in September 2022 from which country?
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Botswana
- Kenya
Show answer
Answer: A — The correct answer is Namibia. The first batch of cheetahs came from Namibia in September 2022.
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