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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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Three cubs born to Namibian cheetah Aasha in MP's Kuno National Park
Bhopal: Namibian cheetah Aasha has given birth to three cubs at the Kuno National Park (KNP) located in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, a Union minister said on Wednesday. "Purrs in the wild! Thrilled to share that Kuno National Park has welcomed three new members. The cubs have been born to Namibian Cheetah Aasha," Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said on social media platform X. He termed the development "a roaring success for Project Cheetah, envisioned by PM Narendra Modi to restore ecological balance". "My big congrats to all experts involved in the project, the Kuno wildlife officials, and wildlife enthusiasts across India," Yadav said in the post. In March 2023, Siyaya, who was later renamed as Jwala, had given birth to four cubs, but only one of them survived. Jwala was also translocated to the KNP from Namibia. https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india/madhya-pradesh/three-cubs-born-to-namibian-cheetah-aasha-in-mps-kuno-national-park-2833996
Double Delight: Kuno Celebrates Arrival Of Six Cubs In 25 Days — Cheetha Jwala Delivers Three Cubs
Mere 25 days after cheetah Aasha welcomed three new members into the Kuno family, the wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh is rejoicing once again as another Cheetah Jwala, introduces three adorable cubs into the world. This momentous occasion aligns with the auspicious arrival of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, marking the arrival of these "Three little sparks of speed" into the ever-growing family of Kuno National Park, ushering in a new chapter of vitality and excitement within the sanctuary, as confirmed by an official statement. This development is a significant milestone for India's conservation efforts, building on the recent birth of 'Aasha's' robust litter of cubs inside Kuno. Fathered by wanderer cheetah Pawan ‘Oban,’ The news has reignited hopes for the resurgence of cheetahs within the Indian ecosystem. Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF), Bhupendra Yadav, tweeted his congratulations to wildlife enthusiasts nationwide, expressing optimism for the thriving wildlife in Bharat. Director General Forest C P Goyal also shared his happiness, acknowledging the efforts of those involved in this unique conservation project. The six cubs stand as a beacon of hope for the restoration of the cheetah population in India, with authorities closely monitoring their growth and development in a secure environment. However, the journey to this success was not without challenges. In May 2023, Project Cheetah faced a setback when three of four cubs born to Jwala succumbed to scorching temperatures, reaching up to 46-47 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest day of the summer season. Despite their best efforts, three cubs could not be saved, and only one survived. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) responded to the incident by forming a "Cheetah Project Steering Committee" to review the project's progress, explore eco-tourism opportunities, and gather suggestions on community involvement. In September 2022, the nation witnessed the arrival of three female cheetahs from Namibia, including the spirited Jwala. In March 2023, Jwala's vigilant behavior led to the discovery of a den containing four historic cheetah cubs, the first born on Indian soil in 75 years. Unfortunately, the harsh summer conditions claimed three lives, leaving a single cub as a testament to the unwavering commitment to conserving India's cheetah population. https://m.timesofindia.com/india/three-cubs-born-to-namibian-cheetah-jwala-at-kuno-national-park-in-madhya-pradesh/amp_articleshow/107067649.cms
Cheetah Jwala gave birth to four, not three cubs in MP's Kuno National Park
Namibian cheetah Jwala has given birth to four cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh and not three, as reported previously, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday. The births, first reported on Tuesday, came just weeks after three cubs were born to another Namibian cheetah, Aasha. Yadav said in a post on X, "Wildlife wonders! As frontline wildlife warriors managed to get closer to Jwala, they found she has given birth to four, not three, cubs. This has increased our joy several times over. Congratulations all. We pray the cubs thrive and prosper at their home in India." According to officials, the cubs were born to Jwala on January 20. This is Jwala's second litter and comes after a gap of 10 months. Jwala (Namibian name Siyaya) had given birth to four cubs last March. Three of the cubs succumbed to extreme heat while the sole survivor is being raised under human care for future wilding. Yadav had on January 3 also shared information about the birth of three cubs to Aasha. The recent births have taken the number of cubs at the Kuno National Park to eight at present, with seven being born this month. The total number of cheetahs at the Kuno National Park currently stands at 21 (six males, seven females and eight cubs). This has been a mixed month for India's cheetah project. While January recorded the birth of seven cubs, it also witnessed the the death of Shaurya -- an adult Namibian cheetah -- on January 16. https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india/madhya-pradesh/cheetah-jwala-gave-birth-to-four-not-three-cubs-in-mps-kuno-national-park-2862101?fbclid=IwAR2XxMLfIfOGlmJo78nvHAj7AhZkIshF7ftkPzDrZTvcrXeiOIlbFWmKd1g_aem_AdwVBWcfwSmeZgkpA3rMMiCI9FppvRDYBrW0XP0cyF25SmQCbPJNDPmIYoUaBLXKGDs
90 per cent ready: Wildlife experts from South Africa to review preparations for Cheetah's second home in India in February
A South African delegation, including wildlife experts, will arrive in February to assess the conditions at Madhya Pradesh's Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary which is slated to become the second home of cheetahs in India, officials said on Thursday. They also said the two female Namibian cheetahs who recently gave birth to a total of seven cubs will be released in the wild only when the weather conditions improve. An official said that a South African delegation will visit India in February for an assessment of the preparations at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. "Thereafter, a call on bringing the next batch of cheetahs will be taken," the official said. SP Yadav, Additional Director General of Forests at the Environment Ministry, had earlier told PTI that the next batch of cheetahs will be imported from South Africa and introduced into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Another official told the news agency that 90 per cent of the work to prepare the wildlife sanctuary for cheetahs has been completed. Gandhi Sagar is about a six-hour drive from Kuno. It is spread across 368 square kilometres and has an additional 2,500 sq km area surrounding it. The official quoted above also said the mother cheetahs and their cubs will not be released into the wild until weather conditions in the Kuno National Park improve. Officials reported on Tuesday that Namibian cheetah Jwala gave birth to four cubs on January 20. In early January, another Namibian cheetah, Asha, gave birth to three cubs. This is Jwala's second litter and comes after a gap of 10 months. The officials said that compared to other female cheetahs, Jwala is a wilder animal. She avoids humans and remains alert even when resting, a typical cheetah behaviour of remaining careful of bigger and stronger predators all the time. Jwala (Namibian name Siyaya) had given birth to four cubs last March. Three of the cubs succumbed to extreme heat while the sole survivor is being raised under human care for future wilding. The official said the mother cheetahs and their cubs are being kept in larger enclosures to avoid extreme weather and for better monitoring, which is difficult in the wild. "We will release them in the wild as soon as weather conditions improve," the official said. The recent births have taken the number of cubs at the Kuno National Park to eight at present, with seven being born this month. The total number of cheetahs at the Kuno National Park currently stands at 21 (six males, seven females and eight cubs). While January recorded the birth of seven cubs, it also witnessed the death of Shaurya -- an adult Namibian cheetah -- on January 16. Officials said they do not know the reason for Shaurya's death as they have not yet received his post-mortem report. Since last March, seven adult cheetahs, including Shaurya, have died due to various reasons. The seven adult cheetahs -- three females and four males -- that died include Sasha, Uday, Daksha, Tejas, Suraj, Dhatri and Shaurya. The first six fatalities occurred in a six-month period between March and August 2023. Jwala and Aasha are among the cheetahs translocated to India from Namibia under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Project Cheetah, aimed at re-introducing the only large carnivore species that went extinct in independent India. The first batch of eight cheetahs was introduced in India in September 2022. The second batch of 12 cheetahs was flown in from South Africa last February. The much-vaunted cheetah conservation project, however, has drawn sharp criticism over the animals' deaths. According to officials, one of the biggest challenges faced in the first year of managing the cheetahs in India was the unexpected development of winter coats by some of the animals during the Indian summer and monsoon, in anticipation of the African winter (June to September). The winter coat, combined with high humidity and temperatures, caused itching, prompting the animals to scratch their necks on tree trunks or the ground. This led to bruising and exposing the skin, where flies laid eggs, resulting in maggot infestations and, ultimately, bacterial infections and septicemia, leading to the deaths of three cheetahs, an official explained. India plans to import cheetahs that do not develop thicker winter coats, Yadav said earlier. For the cheetahs already in Kuno, he said the plan is to administer prophylactic medicine before the arrival of monsoon to prevent infection. The project's focus in its second year would be on breeding these animals, he added. https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/india/90-per-cent-ready-wildlife-experts-from-south-africa-to-review-preparations-for-cheetahs-second-home-in-india-gandhi-sagar-wildlife-sanctuary/cid/1996144?fbclid=IwAR067XjAyOP0fwCTDpD1-4qC7q3DRsOMUhB3-UN8a9UKk9q5SUkemtQfIAs
At Banni, Special Mating Zones For Choosy Cheetahs
The Gujarat forest department has begun laying the ground on a war footing for India's first cheetah conservation breeding centre coming up in Banni Grasslands Reserve, a protected forest in the southern end of the state's Kutch district. Spread over 500 hectares, this will be India's first facility for big cats where special open-to-air isolation enclosures are being built to create an environment conducive to the cheetah's natural courtship and mating behaviour. The isolation chambers at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, also home to cheetahs in India, are quarantine facilities for the big cats arriving from Africa, and not mating areas, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials said. To achieve a higher success rate, separating males from the females is important, say conservationists. A senior forest officer said cheetah breeding for conservation involves detailed study and extreme precaution as these animals display peculiar behaviour in choosing their mates. "And since the Banni facility is a conservation breeding centre, we need to go the extra mile to see success." Banni reserve goes the extra mile on cheetah breeding Sandeep Kumar, chief conservator of forests, who is the project in charge, said, “After a detailed study of cheetah behaviour, the forest department is readying three enclosures, all open to air and each spread over 120sq m. One will house males, the second will have females while in the third, a pair that has come close to each other, will be isolated for natural breeding.” Although fenced, these enclosures will be interconnected to facilitate free cheetah movement. A team will closely monitor the separate enclosures to identify pairs getting attracted and facilitate their isolation with minimal or zero intervention. Under the Rs 20.5 crore Union govt project overseen by NTCA, Gujarat has received Rs 3 crore from the Rs 6.5 crore disbursed so far. Principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden, Nityanand Srivastava said, “The funds have started arriving and work has begun. We hope to bring cheetahs to Gujarat early next year.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/indias-first-cheetah-conservation-breeding-centre-in-banni-grasslands-reserve/amp_articleshow/108151053.cms
Cheetah Gamini gives birth to five cubs at MP's Kuno National Park; big cat count rises to 26
Cheetah 'Gamini' on Sunday gave birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number of the big cats in the country to 26, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said. The number of cheetah cubs born in India now stands at 13, the minister added. This is the fourth cheetah litter on Indian soil and the first litter of cheetahs brought from South Africa, Yadav informed. "Congratulations to all, especially the team of forest officers, vets, and field staff who have ensured an stress-free environment for cheetahs, which has led to successful mating and birth of the cubs. The total number of cheetahs, including cubs in Kuno National Park, is 26. Gamini's legacy leaps forward: Introducing her adorable cubs," the Union Minister stated. Under the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were released into enclosures at KNP on September 17, 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa. Gamini is part of the group brought from South Africa. https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/cheetah-gamini-gives-birth-to-five-cubs-at-mps-kuno-national-park-big-cat-count-rises-to-26/amp_articleshow/108369398.cms
Not 5, But 6 Cubs Born to Cheetah Gamini At MP's Kuno Park, Confirms Union Minister Bhupender Yadav
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday said the African cheetah ‘Gamini’ had given birth to six cubs at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, and not five as reported previously. On March 10, Yadav shared that the five-year-old South African cheetah gave birth to five cubs at the Kuno National Park (KNP). In a post on his official X account on Monday morning, Yadav said, “Gamini’s legacy leaps forward! There is no end to joy: It is not five, but six cubs! A week after the news of five cubs born to Gamini, it is now confirmed that Gamini, the South African cheetah mother, has given birth to six cubs, a record of sorts for a first-time mother." The minister also shared the visuals of cheetah Gamini’s six cubs from the Kuno Park With this, the cheetah count at the KNP has increased to 27, including 14 cubs. In March last year, cheetah Jwala (Namibian name Siyaya) had given birth to four cubs but only one managed to survive. Jwala gave birth to her second litter of four cubs in January this year, which was followed by cheetah Aasha delivering three cubs. Under the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project, eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were released into enclosures at the KNP on September 17 in 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa. Gamini is part of the group brought from South Africa. https://www.news18.com/amp/india/kuno-park-cheetah-gamini-gives-birth-to-6-cubs-union-environment-minister-bhupender-yadav-8819579.html 
a cheetah from kuno made it's way to kali devi tiger reserve near ranthambore recently they tranquilized it and returned it
Kenyan Delegation Reviews Prep At Cheetahs' Proposed Second Home In India
A delegation from Kenya visited the Gandhi Sagar sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday to take stock of preparations for cheetah reintroduction in the area, an official said. The six-member team visited the sanctuary, spread across Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, on May 21 and 22, he said. After reintroducing cheetahs - the animal was declared extinct from India in 1952 - at Kuno National Park (KNP) in the state's Sheopur district two years ago, the government is planning to bring the big cats to Gandhi Sagar. On the first day, the Kenyan team watched a presentation on preparations for the translocation of cheetahs and successful reintroduction at KNP, the forest official said. On the second day it visited enclosures made over 6,400 hectare including quarantine arrangements for the initial period of 30 days. It also inspected high-mast cameras for the monitoring of cheetahs and water sources for them, the official said. The visitors were apprised of the equipment and technology which the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) experts would use for monitoring the animals. Eight Namibian cheetahs were released into enclosures at KNP on September 17, 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa. There are at present 27 cheetahs in KNP, including 14 cubs that were born on Indian soil. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kenyan-delegation-reviews-prep-at-cheetahs-proposed-second-home-in-india-5729387/amp/1?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR28Ht8H4LYYJ8CUiD8K6sRTRHzfOaPvAN-hkqjsgERFjAyX2XZqrTGb6II_aem_AWCS7ehwHR5Y_WiD4P_5sNDNwHobVFgP_2Ptdhp7uUPN8cro4Kb6IzUx_JCHhRnXI9sWhCDZNfvZ-MkfSKmFxg_G
MP: Prey base in Kuno being improved to stop cheetahs from straying out
Bhopal: In order to improve the prey base in the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh to prevent cheetahs from straying into the nearby human habitations ‘in search of food’, the state forest department has decided to translocate around 1,500 chitals or spotted deer to the KNP from other wildlife sanctuaries. The proposal to relocate chitals from three wildlife sanctuaries in the state to the KNP was cleared by the wildlife wing of the state forest department here on Wednesday, sources said. Around 500 chitals each from Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) and Madhav National Park (MNP) will be relocated to KNP to improve the prey base for cheetah in Kuno. The KNP field director Uttam Sharma on Wednesday confirmed that chitals from other wildlife sanctuaries are being shifted to the KNP. The move to improve the prey base in the KNP comes in the wake of cheetahs found to be straying into the human habitations in the periphery of the park and the neighbouring state of Rajasthan, frequently. The felines have also killed prey such as cattle and goats in these areas. Mr Sharma however dismissed the contention that cheetahs moved out the core area of KNP because of declining prey base. “The prey base in Kuno National Park is sufficient. The main prey of cheetahs in KNP is chital. Cheetah is the fastest animal in the world and moves in vast areas”, he said. A few months ago, around 1,000 chitals were translocated to KNP from other wildlife sanctuaries. In the first ever intercontinental translocation of carnivores, eight cheetahs from Namibia were shifted to KNP in September 2019 under the cheetah introduction project. Later, 12 more cheetahs were translocated to KNP from South Africa. The cheetah population got a boost when two female cheetahs gave birth to cubs. Ten cheetahs including three cubs have meanwhile died due to various reasons. The cheetah population in Kuno now stands at 26 https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/mp-prey-base-in-kuno-being-improved-to-stop-cheetahs-from-straying-out-898600
Cheetahs at Kuno Park receive special ointment treatment to prevent deadly infection
Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh: In an effort to protect the cheetah population at Kuno National Park(KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, a new initiative has been launched to apply foreign ointment to their fur, an official said. This measure aims to prevent a recurrence of septicemia, a deadly bacterial infection that claimed the lives of three cheetahs last year. The cursorial predators at the Kuno National Park, brought to India as part of a translocation project from South Africa and Namibia, are receiving Anti Ecto Parasite Medicine to combat the threat of septicemia. The ointment, imported from South Africa, is being applied to all 13 adult cheetahs in the park to ensure their well-being during the rainy season. "We have started applying the 'Anti Ecto Parasite Medicine' (anti maggot) imported from South Africa to the cheetahs by immobilising them with the onset of the rainy season," KNP director Uttam Sharma told PTI over phone on Sunday. Despite facing setbacks in the past year, Kuno National Park remains committed to the conservation and preservation of cheetahs in India. The loss of three cheetahs to septicemia underscored the need for proactive measures to safeguard the remaining population. "We are going to apply this medicine to the bodies of all 13 adult cheetahs in the KNP, spread over an area of 1,235 sq km including buffer zone in Sheopur district," he said, adding "the effect of the ointment lasts for three to four months". However, he did not share details of the immunisation plan duration and the date it started but confirmed that the KNP lost three cheetahs to septicemia, caused by blood poisoning due to bacterial infection, last year. As the monsoon season progresses, efforts to protect the cheetahs from environmental risks are paramount. The collaboration between wildlife experts, park officials, and meteorologists aims to ensure the well-being of the cheetahs amidst changing weather conditions. Despite facing challenges in tranquilising the swift creatures for treatment, the dedicated team at KNP is determined to carry out the immunisation process efficiently. The history-making reintroduction of cheetahs in India aims to revive the species, which was declared extinct in the country back in 1952. The last in the cat family had died in Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh, once part of MP, in 1947. Last year's unfortunate incident of cheetah deaths due to septicemia underscored the importance of taking proactive measures to safeguard these magnificent animals. KNP outright denied that the radio collar caused the septicemia the last time around. "It was not the cause of the outbreak. It might have aggravated it," KNP director Sharma said. "Last year, initially many experts doubted the radio collars caused the infection. But later the air was cleared," he said. The fur of African cheetahs grows in June, July- August which is winter in the southern hemisphere. These months are hot, humid and rainy in the northern hemisphere, the official said. "So, the hostile weather plus rain caused dampness in the thick fur of the cheetahs. They rubbed their bodies for relief and in the process wounded themselves last year," he added. "No sooner, the blood oozes from the wound, the flies come in the picture and lay eggs in them and then come maggots which killed cheetahs in 48 hours last year," the official recalled. Eight Namibian cheetahs - five female and three male - were released into quarantine enclosures at KNP on September 17, 2022, at a high-profile event in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest. With the monsoon season already underway in Madhya Pradesh, the authorities are leaving no stone unturned to protect the cheetah population from potential health risks. Sheopur has received 78.4 mm of rain against the normal rainfall of 77.6 mm between June 1 and June 30 morning, as per the India Meteorological Department Bhopal centre’s forecast in-charge Divya Surendran. She said the rain-bearing system, which hit the state on June 21, has covered the entire Madhya Pradesh by June 28. With the ongoing advancements in conservation practices, KNP is determined to secure a future for cheetahs in India. By addressing health concerns and implementing strategic interventions, the park strives to create a safe habitat for these iconic predators. The translocation project, which brought cheetahs from across continents to India, represents a significant step towards reviving the cheetah population in the country. As efforts continue to protect and support these majestic animals, KNP remains at the forefront of conservation initiatives aimed at preserving biodiversity and wildlife heritage, Sharma said. https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india/madhya-pradesh/cheetahs-at-kuno-park-receive-special-ointment-treatment-to-prevent-deadly-infection-3086754
Gujarat gears up for cheetah breeding centre at Banni as CZA gives green signal
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has given its final approval for a cheetah conservation breeding centre in Gujarat’s Banni grasslands, paving way for reintroduction of the big cat to the state after decades of its absence. The project, set to house 16 cheetahs, marks a significant step in India’s efforts to restore its lost wildlife heritage, Sandeep Kumar, chief conservator of forest, Kutch Territorial Forest Circle, told HT. He said that in February, CZA had given its ‘in-principle’ approval for the project, based on which they had started some initial groundwork. “We have created a 500-hectare enclosure for setting up the cheetah conservation breeding centre at Banni in Kutch. We are planning to translocate 16 cheetahs, a mix of males and females, mostly from Namibia or South Africa,” he said. The project, allocated approximately ₹20 crore, includes expenses for fencing, habitat redevelopment, and the establishment of a hospital. While Kumar said that no official timeline has been provided by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) that launched Project Cheetah, a forest department official suggested plans to bring the wild cats by the end of this year. Banni was selected from among ten potential sites identified in 2009 for cheetah reintroduction in India. Its savannah-like habitat, similar to East African landscapes, and the presence of Pilu trees (Salvadora persica) for perching make it an ideal location. Historically, cheetahs were found in this region, with records of cheetah hunting in Saurashtra and Dahod until 1921, and references to their presence in Gujarat until the early 1940s. The project aims primarily at developing and breeding the animals, rather than tourism. To support the cheetahs, the forest department has improved about 14,000 hectares of grasslands at Banni and introduced a chinkara breeding program to bolster the prey base. A black buck breeding program is also in the pipeline. In December last year, a proposal initiated by the Gujarat government and submitted to the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Authority (National CAMPA) received approval from the executive committee of National CAMPA. Despite the challenge of an insufficient prey base in Banni, the absence of apex predators like leopards in the region presents a favorable environment for cheetahs to adapt to their new home in Gujarat, according to a wildlife expert. The Banni grasslands, along with the Kachchh Desert Sanctuary, cover approximately 5000 km² in the Kachchh district of north-western Gujarat. The area lies south of the Rann of Kachchh mud-flats and parts of it get inundated by sea water during the rainy season. According to a report titled “Assessing the Potential for Reintroducing the Cheetah in India” prepared by Wildlife Trust of India and Wildlife Institute of India for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, “With proper management strategies and plans to restore the habitat in this presently degraded system, ungulate densities can increase substantially. Under such conditions, it would be possible for this region to support as many as 55 cheetahs, as per carrying capacity estimates.” The region is home to various carnivores including hyena, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, caracal, and jungle cat. It also hosts seasonal visitors like the lesser florican and Houbara bustard and boasts around 32 species of palatable but salt-tolerant grasses. Great Indian bustard have been reported in Abdasa grasslands, about 40 km away. With the implementation of the Banni project, Gujarat will become the only state in India to be home to both Asiatic lions and cheetahs, further cementing its importance in India’s wildlife conservation efforts. This initiative comes more than a year after the inception of the cheetah reintroduction project in India at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on September 17, 2022. “The issue is that breeding them was not part of the original proposal for re-introduction of cheetahs in India. In the case of Kuno, the idea was to hold them in quarantine only for a short period so that they don’t transmit diseases that they might have caught in Africa. Kutch’s Banni was not selected initially for the cheetah re-introduction in India project due to the absence of prey base at that time. The goal of introducing cheetahs in Banni should be to revitalise the entire ecosystem. The aim should be to have free ranging cheetahs in the region. Else, instead of a restoration project it will turn into a conservation breeding project,” said Y V Jhala, a senior scientist who played a role in the re-introduction of cheetahs in India. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/gujarat-gears-up-for-cheetah-breeding-centre-at-banni-as-cza-gives-green-signal-101721655251166-amp.html
After year in enclosures, Kuno cheetahs set to be freed into the wild
After spending a year inside enclosures, the African cheetahs brought to India as part of the world’s first intercontinental translocation of the big cats are set to be released into the wild again at Kuno national park. The cheetahs were brought to the enclosures on August 13, 2023 after three adult cheetahs “died due to septicaemia after wounds beneath their dense winter coat on the back and neck regions became infested with maggots” in July. It was a major setback to the translocation project, which began in September 2022. Head of the Cheetah Steering Committee, Dr Rajesh Gopal, told The Indian Expressthe cheetahs will be released in a phased manner. “I was at the meeting with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) officials where we arrived at the decision to release the cheetahs into the wild. This will be undertaken in a phased manner as the monsoons come to an end,” he said. In Madhya Pradesh, the monsoon usually withdraws from most parts by the beginning of October Currently, there are 25 cheetahs at Kuno — 13 adults and 12 cubs, born at the national park. Under the translocation project, 20 cheetahs were brought to India in two batches — eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa last February — of which seven have died until this January. The adult cheetahs gave birth to 17 cubs, of which 12 survived. All the cheetahs are doing well, officials said, adding the animals are able to hunt chitals (spotted deer) inside their enclosures and have been designated “fit for release”. Kuno officials will also be sending a compilation of the best practices learnt over the year to the NTCA for further post-release strategies, they said. Giving details of the sequence of the phase-wise release, Dr Gopal said the coalitions (group that lives together) will be released first followed by individual cheetahs and then, at last, the mothers along with their cubs. The oldest of the cubs is around 8 months old and has begun climbing trees and following its mother on a hunt. Said Dr Gopal: “The cheetah cubs and their mothers will be released in the last week of December. By this time the cubs will reach a stage in their life where they will be able to hunt for themselves.” The only exceptions could be two elderly cheetahs and an orphaned cub abandoned by its mother. While the old cheetahs are not expected to be released at all, Kuno officials said the cub may not be released until it is “rewilded”. After the male coalitions are released, Dr Gopal said their behaviour will be studied before the others are set into the wild. “We anticipate some unpredictable circumstances may arise. They may not immediately leave their enclosures or strat far away. We will study their behaviour and see if they are able to localise and release the other cheetahs,” he said. Explaining some challenges facing the cubs, a senior Kuno official said, “The cubs will also go through a growth spurt and we need special collars for that. We may also need to keep replacing them. There are challenges in darting them and reuniting them with their mothers. We are thinking of possible strategies to address this.” There are also challenges in the form of co-predators, such as leopards who stalk the landscape and the prey base of the chitals. However, a senior Kuno official dismissed these factors. “Even when they spent months inside a soft release enclosure they were able to hunt chitals and survive leopards. We think they will be able to survive the wild. The latest estimate of prey base for chitals stands at 18 per sq Km. But they have found other prey like chinkara (Indian Gazelle) which was previously not found in some of these locations,” the officer said. To fight the septicemia infection, which broke out last year, the veterinarians have already carried out prophylactic vaccination of the cheetahs. They have now begun preparing for preventive vaccinations for other diseases that may afflict the animals. On the dense winter coats, Dr Gopal believes that in their third or fourth generation, the cheetahs born in India would finally be able to acclimatise to Indian conditions. “The Cheetahs from the African continent belonged to a different circadian rhythm. We hope that in two years their coat patterns may be synchronised,” he said. Inside the enclosures, the cheetahs are currently monitored by dedicated teams, with around 15 people in all and comprising a forest watcher, forest guard and researchers. The tracking teams relay the information to the Control Room at Palpur, a remote location in the centre of Kuno which serves as the central hub for monitoring and controlling all activities related to the wild cats. Senior officers at KNP are yet to receive orders from the steering committee. Said a senior KNP official, “We expect our teams to do the job of tracking and monitoring the cheetahs (after the release). It is a labour intensive job and we managed to successfully track the cheetahs last time as well. They have got enough training experience.” https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-year-in-enclosures-kuno-cheetahs-set-to-be-freed-into-the-wild-9531139/lite/
'Huge Prey Shortage': India to Captive-Breed Chital, Blackbuck to Sustain Its Imported African Cheetahs
After captive-breeding of the African cheetahs in the enclosures in Kuno National Park, India will now undertake captive-breeding of its spotted deer chital, chinkara and blackbuck to ensure there is enough prey available for its imported felines. The decision comes in the wake of “huge shortage of prey base” at Kuno since the translocation took place. Separate predator-proof breeding enclosures are being set up for chital, chinkara and blackbuck – as was done for the cheetahs. The government’s latest progress report on Project Cheetah has also recommended mass-capture of blackbucks from agricultural fields into Kuno to meet the immediate shortage. India is desperate to revive the population of cheetahs in the country – despite several serious concerns over the last two years. Eight of the 20 adult cheetahs airlifted from South Africa and Namibia have died due to multiple causes, leaving only 12 adults. All of them remain confined to enclosures set up in the national park since last year – raising questions on the purpose of exercise. The wild beasts have also been captive-bred – producing 12 cubs. But as the world’s biggest wildlife experiment and multi-crore exercise enters its third year, it now faces a peculiar challenge of dwindling prey base. So far, the Forest department officials have had to manually capture chital, and chinkara from other national parks in Kanha and Bandhavgarh to feed the captive wild beasts. Now it has decided to breed them at the site. ‘HUGE SHORTAGE, NEED IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION’ Captive breeding of prey was not a part of the initial Project Cheetah, which had estimated the chital population at Kuno to be 6,700, and found it to be “adequate” for the cheetahs. In 2021, there were at least 23 chital per sq. km in Kuno, but the number drastically fell to just 17 per sq. km in 2024, said the government’s latest progress report. The wildlife experts associated with the project have estimated that one leopard/cheetah hunts a chital-sized animal every four days on an average. So, to sustain one cheetah or a leopard, at least 260 prey animals are required every year. Since, Kuno currently has about 91 leopards and 12 adult cheetahs, it would require around 23,660 and nearly 3,120 prey animals respectively – much more than the current chital population of 6,700. To make matters worse, the population of other prey has also been found to be very low, and since their growth rate is low too, they are not suitable contenders for breeding. SET UP PREDATOR-PROOF BREEDING ENCLOSURES Pressing on the urgency of the issue, the latest report has directed “immediate prey augmentation (initially chital)” in Kuno. “At least 1,500 chital have to be brought to Kuno to increase the prey base. Additionally, it is necessary to maintain chital populations in predator-proof enclosures to ensure a consistent supply of prey,” the annual report noted. The forest department has already started setting up the breeding enclosures. As per the plan, one predator proof enclosure size of 1 sq km can accommodate 24 adult females and six males. “If all females breed and 24 fawns are born and a conservative estimate of two-thirds survive, there will be an addition of at least 16 animals annually. Under such settings, for initially breeding 100 chital annually, at least six predator-proof enclosures have to be constructed at various locations,” the ambitious plan noted. The government is also eager to bring the next batch of eight cheetahs before the year-end to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary where they will be kept within a fenced area of 64 sq km. All the leopards in this area are being captured and shifted outside. But the wildlife sanctuary is not believed to be suitable for chital, so instead, the report has recommended captive breeding of chinkara and blackbuck at the site. Three predator proof enclosures, one of 90 hectares, and two of 50 hectares each, have already been established for captive breeding of the prey inside the fenced area for cheetah release. The breeding of prey will have to be regularly carried out until they reach the level of self-sustenance, as per the plan. https://www.news18.com/india/huge-prey-shortage-india-to-captive-breed-chital-blackbuck-to-sustain-its-imported-african-cheetahs-9057508.html
India aims to make interstate cheetah conservation complex within 25 years
India aims to build an inter-state cheetah conservation complex in the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscapes across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan within the next 25 years, according to the 2023-24 annual progress report of Project Cheetah. The report, released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority on the completion of two years of Project Cheetah on September 17, said while a new batch of cheetahs was likely to be brought to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary by the end of the year, they would be released into free-ranging conditions over the next five years. According to the "Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in Gandhi Sagar", five to eight cheetahs would be released into a 64-square kilometre predator-proof fenced area in the first phase, with a focus on breeding. "Both these landscapes, along the interstate border of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are adjacent to each other, and the combined landscapes together can constitute the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar cheetah landscape for metapopulation management of 60-70 cheetahs after restorative measures, prey availability, and scientific management are effectively in place, as an interstate cheetah conservation complex within the next 25 years under the umbrella of Project Cheetah," the report read. This larger Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape is located in the Sheopur, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Morena, Guna, Ashoknagar, Mandsaur and Neemuch districts of Madhya Pradesh and Baran, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Kota, Jhalawar, Bundi and Chittorgarh districts of Rajasthan. The Bhind and Datia districts in Madhya Prsadesh, Dholpur in Rajasthan, and Lalitpur and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh adjacent to this landscape would be incorporated as part of the complex, depending on cheetahs' use of the region, according to the report. While authorities have been busy preparing the 368-square kilometre Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary for the next batch of cheetahs, the ones in Kuno remain inside enclosures that are only 0.5 to 1.5 square kilometres in size. For context, cheetahs need much larger areas in the wild, usually over 50 square kilometres, depending on prey availability. "During July-August 2023, all the free-ranging cheetahs were captured for treatment and housed in quarantine bomas due to health reasons and subsequently shifted to soft-release enclosures. Currently, all the cheetahs are in soft-release enclosures and will be released in a phased manner post-monsoon," the report said. According to officials, the animals were brought back to their enclosures after the deaths of three cheetahs -- a female named Tbilisi (from Namibia) and two South African males, Tejas and Sooraj -- from septicemia, an infection that occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread. This condition arose from wounds under the cheetahs' thick winter coats on their backs and necks, which became infested with maggots and led to blood infections. Officials had earlier told PTI that the unexpected growth of winter coats in some cheetahs during the Indian summer and monsoon, in anticipation of the African winter (June to September), was a major challenge in managing the animals in India during the first year. Records obtained by PTI under the Right to Information Act showed that India considered sourcing new cheetahs from Somalia, Tanzania, Sudan, and other range countries closer to the Equator or in the Northern Hemisphere to avoid biorhythm complications observed in big cats brought from Southern Hemisphere countries such as South Africa and Namibia. The report said the cheetahs had managed to successfully coexist with the large carnivores in the Kuno National Park. They are continuously monitored by teams of forest staff, veterinarians and researchers for their wellbeing and to understand their ecology such as predation, movement and habitat use. Management interventions were made as and when the situation demanded, it said. https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/india-aims-to-make-interstate-cheetah-conservation-complex-within-25-years-124091900929_1.html |
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