Tragic Loss at Kuno National Park: Eight-Month-Old Cheetah Cub Found Dead

Kuno National Park, October 12 (Daily Kiran) : A female cheetah cub, named Asha, tragically died at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on October 12. The cub was just eight months old and had been brought from Namibia as part of India’s cheetah reintroduction project. During a routine morning check, park staff discovered that Asha was with only four of her five cubs, prompting a search for the missing one.

Following the search, the cub was found deceased. This incident brings the total number of cheetahs in India down to 59, with 41 of them born in the country.

The field director of the Cheetah Project noted that Asha was observed with four cubs during the monitoring session. The cause of the cub’s death remains unclear, and officials are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the specifics.

With this loss, the number of cheetahs at Kuno National Park has decreased to 53, including 40 that were born in India. Currently, 15 cheetahs roam freely in the park, while others are kept in enclosures or under observation.

Asha’s five cubs were born about eight months ago, representing a significant milestone for the Cheetah Project, which aims to establish a self-sustaining population of cheetahs in India. The species was declared extinct in the country in 1952.

This recent death highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the cheetah reintroduction program. Although several cubs have been born under this initiative, there have also been instances of adult cheetahs and cubs dying.

The Cheetah Project began in September 2022, when eight cheetahs were relocated from Namibia to Kuno National Park. In February 2023, 12 more cheetahs were brought from South Africa to help re-establish the species in its historical habitat.

International cooperation is integral to this project, focusing on providing suitable habitats, adequate prey, veterinary care, and scientific monitoring for cheetah conservation and breeding.

In addition to Kuno, four cheetahs are currently housed in the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and two are in the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, making a total of 59 cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh, with 41 born in India.