Kuno National Park: South Africa has termed the death of two cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park as normal. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) said the death of the two cheetahs in Kuno is within the expected mortality rate for Project Tiger. This is common in risky relocations.
DFFE also said that large carnivore rehabilitation projects are extremely complex. There are many types of risks. As cheetahs are released into the wild, it becomes increasingly difficult to control their daily activities. The autopsy report has not come yet. Even during the post-mortem, no such indication has been found that there is any kind of infection in the cheetahs and there is any danger to other cheetahs.
Cheetahs also died in Africa
The department said 11 South African cheetahs are in large enclosures. They are closely monitored twice a day. Since they are wild cheetahs, their behavior, movement and body condition must be assessed from afar to get an accurate picture of their health status. In the next two months, these leopards will be released in the open forest. Kuno has many fauna including leopards, wolves, bears and hyenas.
Even in Africa when cheetahs were introduced, many cheetahs were killed within a year of being released into the wild. Many cheetahs will move out of the boundaries of Kuno National Park. Then if they are caught then they will be in tension. Once the cheetahs recognize the limit, stability will come.
The death of these two cheetahs
April 23: Six-year-old Cheetah Uday, who was brought to India from South Africa, died on April 23.
April 27: Of the eight cheetahs brought to India from Namibia, five-year-old Sasha died on April 27. His kidney had failed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted on his birthday
On 17 September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs brought from Namibia on the occasion of his birthday at Kuno National Park in Sheopur. Five female and three male leopards were brought in these. After this, 12 more cheetahs were brought from South Africa to Kuno National Park on 18 February.
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