India, Oct. 27 -- A 19-month-old male cub of cheetah Nirva, which was found injured in Morena, died of gunshot injuries on Tuesday, said an official.

The cub was first rescued from Pahargarh range in Morena and brought to Kuno National Park, where it died during treatment. While initial reports suggested the cheetah was injured in its back after being hit by sticks, veterinary examination confirmed gunshot injuries.

Veterinary doctor Shibha Javre said, "The scan revealed multiple metallic foreign bodies in the body of the lumbar vertebra (L1), in the region between the first lumbar (L1) and thirteenth thoracic (T13) vertebrae and ventral to the T13 vertebra. Two metallic foreign bodies were also detected in the subcutaneous tissues near...