Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has been grappling with a heartbreaking loss as nine cheetahs, including three cubs, have died since March. The latest fatality, a female cheetah named Dhatri (Tiblisi), was discovered dead on a Wednesday morning. Authorities are conducting a post-mortem to determine the cause of death.
The situation at Kuno National Park has raised serious concerns as it struggles to preserve the introduced cheetah population under the ambitious inter-continental cheetah translocation project. The government had initiated the project by introducing 20 cheetahs, eight from Namibia and 12 from South Africa, to the park in September 2022 and February 2023, respectively.
The project aims to re-establish a viable cheetah population in India, but the series of cheetah deaths that began in March has cast a shadow over the initiative. Five adult cheetahs and three cubs succumbed between March 27 and July 14, adding to the worrying tally.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed concerns on Twitter, questioning the situation and emphasizing the need for transparency and scientific studies. The Chairman of the Cheetah Project Steering Committee, Rajesh Gopal, stated that mortality rates during such translocations are expected due to changes in biological clocks and circadian rhythms. However, the scale of the losses has raised alarm.
The cheetahs released in the wild were supposed to call Kuno National Park their new home. However, due to health concerns, some of them have been returned to enclosures, which has raised questions about the viability of the project. This development has also impacted the possibility of tourists being permitted to visit the cheetahs, leading to reported halts in commercial projects, including hotels and resorts.
Kuno National Park faces an uphill battle to understand and address the reasons behind these tragic cheetah deaths. Experts mention that the exploratory phase of the cheetahs in the new area, where they must adapt to the forest cover and other competitive animals, can result in challenges and fatalities. Collar-related deaths also need further investigation to determine the exact cause.
As the authorities continue to investigate and take possible preventive measures, the loss of nine cheetahs serves as a somber reminder of the challenges faced in preserving and reintroducing endangered species in their natural habitats. The need for rigorous research and conservation efforts remains paramount to ensure the survival of these majestic creatures.
