Namibian Cheetah Pawan Dies At Kuno National Park

Namibian cheetah Pawan was found dead at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, officials reported on Tuesday. This incident follows the death of Gamini, a five-month-old African cheetah cub, on August 5.

The Additional Principal Chief Conservation of Forest (APCCF) and director of Lion Project, Uttam Sharma, stated that Pawan was discovered motionless near a swollen nullah amidst bushes around 10:30 AM on Tuesday. Veterinarians noted that the front half of his body, including his head, was submerged in water. No external injuries were visible on the carcass.

Initial Findings and Further Investigation

Preliminary observations suggest drowning as the probable cause of death. However, more details will be confirmed after the postmortem report is released.

Before being released into the wild, Pawan, originally named Oban, was kept in an acclimatisation enclosure due to straying incidents. He was eventually allowed to roam freely in Kuno National Park's free-ranging area located in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district.

Current Cheetah Population at KNP

With Pawan's passing, Kuno National Park now has 24 cheetahs remaining. This includes 12 adults and 12 cubs.