Shivpuri, May 13: The cheetah reintroduction project at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has reached a new milestone. A female cheetah, brought from Botswana, was released into the open forest on Wednesday. Officials associated with the cheetah project confirmed this in a press release. The number of cheetahs now roaming freely in the wild has increased to 14.
According to the forest department, all cheetahs are under continuous monitoring. Their activities are tracked using radio collars, specialized monitoring teams, and technical equipment to ensure their safety.
Recently, the project faced a setback with the death of four cubs belonging to the female cheetah, Gamini. On May 11, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav visited Kuno and released two female cheetahs from Botswana into the open forest. At that time, the number of cheetahs had risen to 17, but following the cubs’ deaths on May 12, the count dropped to 13. With the release of another female cheetah on Wednesday, the population has now returned to 14.
Forest department officials stated that the total number of cheetahs in Kuno National Park has now reached 50, while three cheetahs have been relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Thus, the total number of cheetahs in India stands at 53.
R. Thirukural, the DFO of Kuno National Park, mentioned that all cheetahs are being closely tracked. He said, “Our teams are monitoring the cheetahs’ activities 24/7 through radio collars and field observations. We keep records of their health, diet, and reproductive behavior.”
Under the cheetah project, the cheetahs brought from Botswana are initially kept in quarantine enclosures, where their health is assessed, and they undergo acclimatization. Only after successful adaptation are they released into the open forest.
The Indian government’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction project involves bringing cheetahs from Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, with Kuno National Park serving as the project’s main hub. Several female cheetahs have successfully given birth to cubs here, demonstrating the project’s success. However, incidents such as the deaths of some cubs have occurred, prompting the forest department to continuously learn and improve the process.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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