Bhopal- Tragedy struck again at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh as another cheetah named Suraj, translocated from Namibia, passed away. The passing of Suraj signifies the cheetah fatality in five months, sparking worries regarding the preservation and welfare of the cheetah community.
The precise reason behind Suraj’s demise remains unknown. Cheetah Tejas was found dead at the same national park only a few days prior. The autopsy revealed that Tejas failed to recover from a “traumatic shock” sustained during a violent altercation with a female cheetah.
This unfortunate string of cheetah fatalities began with the demise of a female cheetah named Sasha in March due to a kidney ailment. Subsequently, Uday passed away on April 23 due to cardiopulmonary failure. Daksha, a female cheetah, died on May 9 after a violent encounter with a male cheetah during a mating attempt.
In March, Siyaya (Jwala) gave birth to four cubs, but tragically, one of the two-month-old cubs died in May due to weakness. Shortly after, two more cheetah cubs from Siyaya’s litter also succumbed to unknown causes.
Earlier, the authorities had denied any negligence or lapses in the cheetah deaths. They asserted that high infant mortality rates, as mentioned in global wildlife literature, contribute to the loss. However, South African wildlife expert Vincent Nan Der Merwe predicted more cheetah deaths, particularly during establishing territories, when cheetahs encounter leopards and tigers within the park.
The ongoing cheetah reintroduction project at Kuno National Park faces significant challenges as it grapples with the loss of these majestic felines. Efforts are underway to investigate the causes of these tragic deaths, implement measures to safeguard the remaining cheetah population, and ensure their successful acclimatisation to the park’s ecosystem.