Sheopur: A 19-month-old male cheetah cub was found injured in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district and was shifted to a medical facility in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur for treatment, a senior official said on Monday.
The Indian-born cheetah was found unwell with an injury mark on its back in Pahargarh range of Morena forest division on Sunday, Madhya Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sameeta Rajora told PTI over phone.
A team from the State Tiger Strike Force (STSF), a specialised wildlife crime-fighting unit of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, had been sent to the spot to investigate possible foul play, Rajora informed.
When asked if the animal had been attacked, Rajora said it was too early to determine whether it had been injured by a wild animal, such as leopards nearby, or by humans.
"The cause of the injury is not yet clear. The cheetah is undergoing medical tests, including an X-ray. It would be examined thoroughly at night. An expert veterinarian from Jabalpur is expected to reach KNP by then to assess its condition," Rajora said.
Its condition can be known only after examination by specialists, the official added.
"It is very much alive. It is responsive. We will give the best treatment. A clearer picture will emerge by Tuesday. The monitoring team in the area reported that the cheetah appeared injured and was not moving normally," she said.
The incident has prompted an investigation by the Forest Department to establish the circumstances under which the cub sustained its injuries.
The cub is the 19-month-old male offspring of Nirva, a female cheetah at KNP. Further details regarding the cub's condition and the findings of the investigation are awaited.
The Pahargarh area in Morena had recently drawn the attention of wildlife enthusiasts over an alleged leopard-poaching racket in which a prominent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) was reportedly implicated, she confirmed.
Kuno National Park is home to 53 cheetahs, including 40 born in India, Rajora said.
(With inputs from PTI & ANI)
