Two newborn cubs of African cheetah Neerva were found dead within the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, their mutilated carcasses discovered by forest staff on Wednesday.
The distressing incident has raised concerns over the safety of cheetah cubs in the park, which has been at the centre of India’s ambitious Project Cheetah.
Forest personnel monitoring Neerva via radio telemetry noticed her absence from the den, prompting an inspection by officials and veterinarians.
"The mutilated remains of two cubs were found within the boma (enclosure). A thorough search confirmed there were no other cubs present," said Uttam Kumar Sharma, Project Cheetah Director.
Samples from the carcasses have been sent for forensic examination, and the cause of death will be determined following the lab report. The remains are scheduled for cremation on Thursday in adherence to established norms.
Sharma clarified that the adult cheetahs, including Neerva, and the remaining 12 cubs in the park are in good health. The current cheetah population at Kuno now stands at 24, following the deaths of the cubs.
Earlier this week, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav shared initial reports of four cubs being born to Neerva on social media but later retracted the statement, deferring confirmation to the forest department.
In his updated post, Yadav described the birth as "a major milestone" for Project Cheetah and congratulated the team for their efforts.
Neerva was among the eight cheetahs translocated from Namibia in September 2022 as part of the world's first intercontinental cheetah reintroduction project, aimed at reviving the species in India after their extinction seven decades ago.
The initiative was bolstered in February 2023 when an additional 12 cheetahs arrived from South Africa.
The ambitious project has brought global attention to India's conservation efforts.
However, incidents such as this underline the challenges of managing the delicate ecosystem and ensuring the survival of these majestic creatures.
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