A 10-year-old Namibian cheetah, Gaurav, died at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park on Monday evening while undergoing treatment, an official said.
Gaurav had been rescued from the wild on September 12 after officials noticed that the cheetah appeared weak and dull. He was subsequently brought in for medical assessment and treatment.
Gaurav was found weak and severely dehydrated
According to the field director of the cheetah project, Gaurav was found to be in a significantly weakened condition when he was examined.
"On examination, he was found to be markedly weak, with visible muscle wasting and severe dehydration. Immediate systemic and supportive treatment was provided, following which he was shifted to Palpur and kept in a Quarantine Boma (QB) for close observation and further management," the field director said.
Based on the initial clinical examination, officials suspected that Gaurav could have been suffering from an underlying chronic condition.
Namibian cheetah's condition deteriorated
Despite receiving continued treatment and supportive care, Gaurav's condition worsened.
"Despite continued treatment and supportive care, his condition deteriorated, and he died at around 4 pm on Monday," the field director said.
Officials have not yet determined the exact cause of death.
Postmortem to establish cause of death
The official said the precise cause will be established after a postmortem examination and analysis of samples collected following Gaurav's death.
"Further details will be available once the reports are received," the official said.
The findings are expected to provide more information about the health condition that may have contributed to the cheetah's deterioration.
Kuno National Park now has 51 cheetahs
Following Gaurav's death, Kuno National Park has 51 cheetahs, including 36 that were born in India, according to the official.
Of the 51 cheetahs at Kuno, 16 are currently ranging freely in the wild.
The official added that four cheetahs are currently housed at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. This takes India's total cheetah population to 55.
Gaurav's death comes as India's cheetah reintroduction programme continues to expand across designated habitats, with officials monitoring the health and movement of the animals brought into the country as well as those born in India.
Inputs from PTI
