Four Forest Personnel Suspended Over Alleged Negligence In Kuno Cheetah Cub's Shooting

The Forest Department has suspended four forest personnel in connection with the shooting and killing of the cub of female cheetah Nirva at Kuno National Park. The action followed allegations of serious negligence in the protection and tracking of the cheetah.

The suspended personnel include Vijaypur Forest Range Officer Jahar Singh Gaur, Morena’s Pahargarh-Kailaras Ranger Akash Tomar, Kanhar outpost in-charge and Deputy Ranger Kirti Shandilya, and Nakedar Dinesh Maraiya. The suspensions were ordered by the Gwalior CCF after responsibility was fixed for lapses in monitoring the cheetah.

According to the information available, Nirva’s cub, identified as KNG22, was shot dead on 27 October. The incident took place in connection with the cheetah’s movement and monitoring in the Kuno National Park area.

The investigation into the case is being conducted by the STF. The agency has detained 3 suspects and started questioning them. The STF is also searching for the gun allegedly used in the incident. However, the weapon has not been recovered so far.

Three drops of cheetah blood were found in the Pahargarh area, according to the information that has emerged in the case. The Forest Department treated the discovery as an indication of serious negligence in the cheetah’s surveillance and tracking.

Following this, the department examined the responsibility of the forest personnel connected with the area. The action against the four employees was taken on the basis of the alleged lapses in protection and tracking.

The STF is continuing to question the 3 suspects in the case. Along with establishing the circumstances in which the cub was shot, the investigation agency is trying to locate the firearm used in the incident.

The failure to recover the gun means that the investigation is still underway. The case concerns the killing of female cheetah Nirva’s cub, KNG22, and the Forest Department’s action has focused on the alleged negligence in tracking and monitoring the animal.