After the sudden deaths of three cheetahs at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park within just over a month last year, the Centre sought assistance from Reliance Industries’ wildlife facility in Gujarat to reassess the health protocols being followed.
The decision to involve a private entity like Reliance's Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) came despite the presence of top wildlife experts already associated with the project, raising eyebrows among conservationists and wildlife experts.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the nodal body overseeing Project Cheetah, reached out to the Jamnagar-based GZRRC in May 2023, following the deaths that occurred between March 27 and May 9.
According to official records, a letter from NTCA’s Assistant Inspector General of Forests, Abhishek Kumar, requested GZRRC to send a team of experts to “review health monitoring protocols” and provide advice to ensure the welfare of the cheetahs.
The GZRRC responded by dispatching a four-member team to Kuno on May 25-26.
Deaths and controversy in cheetah reintroduction
The involvement of GZRRC in Project Cheetah, which is India’s ambitious intercontinental attempt to reintroduce a large carnivore, came after three cheetah deaths in quick succession raised concerns about the health monitoring and management of these animals.
Namibian female cheetah Sasha, one of the first arrivals under Project Cheetah, died due to chronic renal insufficiency on March 27, 2023, despite receiving extensive care for two months.
South African male cheetah Uday died suddenly on April 23, 2023, without showing any prior symptoms, while South African female cheetah Daksha succumbed to injuries on May 9, 2023, following a violent encounter during a mating attempt.
In a response to an email inquiry, GZRRC director Brij Kishor Gupta confirmed the visit by his team and noted that their experts found the health protocols at Kuno to be appropriate.
“The NTCA requested GZRRC last year to assess the healthcare protocols of cheetahs being followed at Kuno, we sent our team of expert veterinarians and the director and found that they are following the right protocol for healthcare management of cheetahs,” Gupta said.
Unanswered questions and lack of transparency
Despite the assurances from GZRRC, questions have been raised about the necessity of involving a private entity when a consortium of seasoned wildlife experts from NTCA, the Wildlife Institute of India, South Africa, and Namibia were already part of the initiative. Ajay Dubey, a Bhopal-based wildlife activist, questioned the decision.
“The government even sent staff from the Madhya Pradesh wildlife department for training in cheetah management in South Africa and Namibia. What did they learn?” he asked.
Dubey further highlighted the lack of transparency in the government's approach.
"And even if you have approached GZRRC, why keep it a secret? There is no mention of the support sought from Reliance Industries' wildlife facility in the annual report of Project Cheetah," he noted.
Minutes from the Cheetah Project Monitoring Committee meetings, obtained via an RTI application, also do not mention the involvement of GZRRC, adding to the controversy surrounding the decision.
Broader challenges of project cheetah
Project Cheetah marks the first intercontinental translocation of big cats, with a total of 20 cheetahs — eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023 — introduced to Kuno National Park.
However, the project has faced significant challenges, with eight adult cheetahs — three female and five male — having died since their arrival. The project’s annual report for 2023-24 outlines these fatalities and provides insight into the difficulties of managing a complex rewilding programme.
Despite these setbacks, there have been some successes. Seventeen cubs have been born in India, with 12 surviving, bringing the total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in Kuno to 24. However, these cubs are currently kept in enclosures, and concerns remain about their future survival and integration into the wild.
GZRRC’s Gupta emphasised that managing a captive population of cheetahs differs significantly from rewilding efforts. He stated that GZRRC specialises in veterinary care, nutrition, housing, exercise, and enrichment for cheetahs in captivity. “The primary focus areas for cheetahs in captivity include veterinary care, nutrition, housing, exercise and enrichment. GZRRC has successfully established optimal standards across all these domains,” Gupta added.
Reliance facility and expertise
The Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, established with Central Zoo Authority approval in February 2019 and officially recognised in August 2020, claims to house more than 40 cheetahs rescued from different captive facilities.
All the cheetahs at GZRRC are captive-born and, according to Gupta, the centre has had “no mortalities of cheetahs at GZRRC till date,” and all the animals are “faring very well.”
GZRRC has recently expanded its facilities to include a Rescue Centre for Herbivores, Asiatic Lion Care, Medical Research and Hospital, Cheetah Conservation and Research Centre, Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, and a multi-specialty hospital, according to its 2023-24 annual report submitted to the CZA.
The decision to involve a private facility like GZRRC in Project Cheetah, particularly in the context of the significant financial and reputational investment in this high-profile conservation project, continues to draw attention.
Critics argue that greater transparency and clearer communication from the NTCA and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change could help address concerns about the project’s management and objectives.
The broader question remains: with a range of experts and resources already committed to Project Cheetah, why did the Centre feel the need to bring in additional support from Reliance? And how can the experience and lessons from this collaboration inform future wildlife conservation efforts in India?
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