The Madhya Pradesh forest department has denied information requested under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the management of cheetahs imported from Africa and their cubs born in India.
The decision has sparked controversy among wildlife activists and raised questions about transparency in the ambitious conservation project.
Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey filed a request seeking details about the "management correspondence records of the Cheetah Project" in Kuno and Mandsaur.
The RTI application was met with a refusal based on Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, which permits withholding information if its disclosure could harm national sovereignty, security, or relations with foreign entities.
Saurav Kumar Kabra, Public Information Officer at the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Madhya Pradesh, confirmed the denial, stating, "The information pertains to the management branch, which has opted not to disclose it under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act."
Dubey, who has previously received RTI information about the health of the first cheetah cub born on Indian soil, expressed concern over the refusal.
“This is the first time I’ve received a reply suggesting that sharing information about cheetahs could impact national security or international relations,” Dubey said.
The cub's health report had previously indicated a fracture in its right leg on November 28.
The Project Cheetah, which saw its inception with the release of eight Namibian cheetahs into Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022, has faced scrutiny due to animal fatalities.
The second batch of 12 South African cheetahs was introduced last February. Despite initial criticisms, including concerns over the animals' deaths, the project has seen some success, with the birth of 12 cubs this year.
Namibian cheetah Aasha gave birth to three cubs in January, and Jwala, another female cheetah, also had three cubs in the same month.
Additionally, South African cheetah Gamini gave birth to six cubs in March, raising the total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in Kuno to 26.
However, the project has also faced setbacks. Since March, seven adult cheetahs have died, including notable individuals like Sasha, Uday, Daksha, Tejas, Suraj, Dhatri, and Shaurya.
These deaths occurred over a six-month period between March and August 2023.
In response to the ongoing issues, the government plans to introduce cheetahs into a fenced area of the Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh by the end of the year, with a focus on breeding.
Furthermore, the Central Zoo Authority has approved a proposal to establish a cheetah conservation breeding centre in Gujarat’s Banni grasslands.
According to a recent document from the Union Environment Ministry, the long-term objective is to create a metapopulation of 60-70 cheetahs in the Kuno-Gandhisagar landscape, which spans approximately 9,000 sq km.
This goal will be pursued after ensuring restorative measures, prey availability, and scientific management.
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