Ten-year-old Namibian cheetah Gaurav died at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on September 21, 2026, while undergoing treatment. He was rescued from the wild on September 12 after being found severely weak and dehydrated. Despite medical care, his condition continued to deteriorate, with officials suspecting an underlying chronic illness. The exact cause of death was to be determined through a post-mortem examination and laboratory tests. Gaurav was among the first eight cheetahs brought from Namibia to India in 2022 under Project Cheetah, the country’s cheetah reintroduction programme. He also fathered five cubs with the South African cheetah Nirva in 2025, contributing to the programme’s breeding efforts.