Cheetah Nirvah Under Suspicion After Mysterious Deaths of Her Cubs at Kuno National Park

BHOPAL: Cheetah Nirvah has become the prime suspect in the tragic deaths and mutilation of her cubs inside an enclosure at Kuno National Park, sources revealed to TOI on Friday. If confirmed, this would be an extraordinarily rare occurrence, as cheetahs are not typically known to kill their young, unlike some other big cats. Experts are now investigating whether Nirvah’s actions were driven by stress, confusion, or other underlying factors.

The news of the cubs’ birth emerged earlier this week, but on Thursday morning, forest officials who had been monitoring Nirvah and her cubs became concerned when they noticed the mother moving away from the den. A team of veterinarians and forest personnel quickly responded to the scene and discovered the decapitated body of one cub and another that had been severely mutilated.

A thorough search of the enclosure showed no signs of external interference, such as a breach in the fence or intrusion by other animals. This led authorities to suspect that Nirvah herself may have been involved in the deaths.

However, leading cheetah expert Laurie Marker has urged caution in labeling the incident as ‘cannibalism,’ noting that new mothers, especially in the case of first-time breeders, often struggle with understanding how to care for their cubs. “New breeding females often don’t know what to do with their first litter, and deaths can occur when they fail to recognize that they are their own cubs,” Marker explained.

Authorities and experts continue to investigate the unusual event as they seek to understand the cause behind this rare and tragic occurrence.