A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Madhya Pradesh High Court requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the suspected shooting and subsequent death of a 19-month-old cheetah cub from Kuno National Park. The petition, filed on Thursday by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey from Bhopal, calls for a thorough, unbiased, and expedited investigation into the incident.

The cub, a male, was discovered with severe injuries between October 26 and 27 in the Morena Territorial Forest Division, an area lying outside the officially protected boundaries of Kuno National Park. The petition highlights concerns over inadequate monitoring and protection measures in areas adjacent to the park, suggesting these lapses may have contributed to the cub’s vulnerability.

While the State Tiger Strike Force has been assigned to probe the case, the petitioner argues that the gravity of the situation warrants a CBI investigation to ensure impartiality and to address broader issues relating to the safety of cheetahs in the region. Dubey’s plea is intended to prompt enhanced accountability and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection protocols.

Kuno National Park has been a focal point of cheetah reintroduction efforts in India, making the incident particularly significant amid ongoing conservation initiatives. The filing underscores the challenges faced in safeguarding reintroduced species outside core protected zones.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court is expected to consider the petition in the coming days, potentially paving the way for a detailed inquiry into this incident and measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.