Project Cheetah: Uncovering Cause Of Cheetah Deaths In Kuno National Park

Kuno National Park: Cheetahs, imported from the African continent, are currently residing in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park. Recent deaths of these cheetahs have sparked political discussions. In response to this, a statement from S.P. Yadav, a member of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, explains that the deaths of three cheetahs in Kuno were not caused by the radio collars they were wearing but rather resulted from severe skin infections due to their thick fur.

Cheetah reproduction

As a result, plans are underway to bring cheetahs from Africa to India with thinner fur, S.P. Yadav mentioned that the second year of the project will focus on cheetah reproduction. Regarding the next batch of cheetahs, they are expected to arrive in the country in 2024.

Released cheetahs imported from Namibia

It’s important to note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi released cheetahs imported from Namibia into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on his birthday last year, September 17, marking the beginning of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project. S.P. Yadav, the project’s leader, stated that Kuno National Park has the capacity to accommodate 20 cheetahs.

Currently, there are a total of 15 cheetahs, including one cub. When the next batch of cheetahs arrives in the country, they will be relocated to another suitable area. Yadav mentioned that they are preparing two such locations in Madhya Pradesh, including Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Nauradehi.

Challenges of caring for cheetahs

S.P. Yadav discussed the challenges of caring for cheetahs in the country, emphasizing that their main challenge was adapting to their new environment, which is significantly different from the African continent, especially in terms of the thickness of their fur.