BHOPAL: In a major setback to Project Cheetah, one of the pathfinders, Oban aka Pawan, was found dead near a drain inside MP’s Kuno National Park on Tuesday.
It’s the second cheetah death in Kuno this month after a cub died on Aug 5. A dozen, including four cubs, have died since the first batch was translocated in Sept 2022. While cheetahs continue to die, MP govt keeps rejecting RTI pleas on the project under the excuse of ‘national security’.
Pawan had fathered two of the three litters born in Kuno and was the only one in the open.The other 24 cheetahs – half of them cubs – continue to be in enclosures as their wilding remains a distant dream. TOI had reported on Aug 17 Pawan was seen as one of the stars of the project for its ability to hunt, travel and hold territory on his own.
Pawan was found submerged in nullah
The wandering cheetah was nicknamed ‘ghumakkad’ by its caregivers at Kuno. An official release said radio-collared Pawan was found dead near a nullah around 10.30am on Tuesday.
“The nullah was full due to recent rain, and the front half of the cheetah’s body, including its head, was submerged in water,” said an official. No external injuries were observed. Preliminary cause of death is suspected to be drowning. Officers are waiting for autopsy report.
On Aug 5, one of the six cubs born to a South African female cheetah, named Gamini, died of spinal injuries after falling from a tree. All seven cubs fathered by Pawan are alive.
Pawan was the wild-born grandson of a cheetah rehabilitated by Cheetah Conservation Fund at Erindi Private Game Reserve in Namibia. Pawan had become known as the adventurous one. Its travels took it over 100km from the protected confines of Kuno.
On Dec 21, 2023, forest officials reintroduced Pawan into Nayagaon forest area within Kuno. In April, Pawan had to be tranquilised when on verge of crossing the state border and entering UP.