What is happening with the cheetahs at Kuno National Park?
All radio-collared cheetahs in the Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh, may be put back in their enclosures for a check-up. Drones will also be used to track their activity in the wild. This decision was made because two male cheetahs recently died.
India’s environment ministry said five of the twenty adult cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa died of natural causes. In the past few months, there have been a total of eight cheetah deaths. Sadly, three out of the four cubs born in India in March 2023 also died. This is worrying for the survival of these cheetahs.
Monthly talks are being held with cheetah experts from South Africa and Namibia to find out more about why the health of these cheetahs is failing. An expert from South Africa will come to KNP to provide information about treating cheetahs.
How is India planning to increase the cheetah population?
Cheetahs in India were declared extinct in 1952 due to reasons like excessive hunting. Later, Indian environmentalists suggested bringing them back. In 2020, the Supreme Court of India approved the Project Cheetah plan.
The project’s aim is to establish a cheetah population in India. Last year, the Namibian government donated eight cheetahs to India. In February 2023, South Africa also agreed to send twelve cheetahs to KNP.
A Cheetah Research Centre with facilities for rescue, rehabilitation, etc., is planned to be established under Project Cheetah. There are also plans to form a cheetah protection force. Hopefully, no more cheetahs will die at KNP, and the cheetah population in India will grow.
Update on the cheetahs at KNP
Currently, eleven cheetahs (six males and five females) have been placed inside the enclosures at KNP. The radio collars of six cheetahs have been removed for health examinations. They are being checked by KNP vets and cheetah experts from South Africa and Namibia. Experts say their condition is healthy.
