A day of celebration at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park turned sombre as one of the two cubs of cheetah Veera, released into the wild just a day earlier, was found dead on Friday. The tragic incident occurred after the cub got separated from its mother during the night, casting a shadow over what had been hailed as a historic moment for India's cheetah reintroduction project.
A Historic Release Turns Tragic
The release of cheetah Veera and her two cubs was conducted by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav during an International Cheetah Day event on December 4, 2025. Officials, wildlife experts, and local villagers had gathered to witness the significant conservation step, which aimed to increase the number of free-ranging cheetahs in Kuno. Veera, brought from South Africa in early 2024, had given birth to the two cubs in February 2025. Their release into the Parond range of the park was seen as a major milestone.
The Night of Separation and Loss
The mood of celebration quickly shifted to concern when field trackers lost the radio-collar signal from the cub on Thursday night. A field official explained the sequence of events, stating, "We lost the signal after dark. When telemetry picked up movement again on Friday, the animal was already dead." The carcass was recovered without any visible external injuries, prompting authorities to send it for a detailed post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Shubranjan Sen, the state's chief wildlife warden, told TOI that the precise cause will be known only after the post-mortem report is available. He added a note of reassurance, confirming that Veera and her remaining cub are together and are reported to be doing well.
Enhanced Monitoring and Next Steps
In the wake of the cub's death, forest authorities have emphasised that all remaining cheetahs in Kuno are healthy and under close observation. A dedicated team comprising wildlife veterinarians, radio-tracking experts, and field staff is maintaining round-the-clock surveillance on the released animals. Officials stated that monitoring protocols are being thoroughly reviewed to prevent such incidents in the future.
The forest department is now awaiting the detailed post-mortem report, which is expected soon. This report will be crucial for understanding the challenges faced by cheetah cubs in the wild and for refining the strategies of the ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme in India.
