Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that Project Cheetah has seen great success despite some regrettable losses caused by different weather conditions. He mentioned that the arrival of cubs in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which is the first home for African cheetahs in India, has contributed to the project's achievements.
"The Cheetah Project has been very successful. We brought 20 cheetahs.... Unfortunately, some losses occurred due to climate conditions. We plan to bring more cheetahs to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary," Yadav said at the launch of a photography exhibition by wildlife photographer Aarzoo Khurana.
The minister mentioned that when cheetahs first entered the Kuno range, forest rangers felt concerned, but he reassured them and encouraged them to continue working diligently, emphasizing that such efforts require time to show results.
A total of 20 cheetahs have been relocated to Kuno as part of the first-ever intercontinental translocation of big cats. Eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia in September 2022, and 12 arrived from South Africa in February 2023.
Since arriving in India, eight adult cheetahs, three females and five males, have died.
Seventeen cubs have been delivered in India, and 12 of them have survived, increasing the total number of cheetahs in Kuno, including cubs, to 24. Currently, all the animals are housed in enclosures.
Last year, due to differences in circadian rhythms between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, certain cheetahs grew thick winter fur during the Indian summer and monsoon seasons, in anticipation of the African winter (June to September).
Unfortunately, three of these cheetahs, including a Namibian female and two South African males, succumbed to wounds under their winter coats, on their backs and necks, which became infested with maggots, ultimately leading to blood infections.
PTI has learnt that an official delegation will imminently travel to South Africa for on-site discussions aimed at introducing a new group of cheetahs. Concurrently, negotiations are taking place with Kenya, and a memorandum of understanding is in the final stages.
The "Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in India" talks about bringing 12-14 cheetahs annually from South Africa, Namibia and other African countries over five years to establish a founder population.
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