Kuno: Come this September, it will be a year since the first batch of cheetahs- five females and three males landed in Gwalior in a specially configured Boeing 747 aircraft after a long journey from Windhoek, Namibia. These wild cats sparked a blitz particularly after they were joined by another coalition of 12 from South Africa.
Officials revealed that two more translocated cheetahs were brought to the enclosure for health examination at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district. Prabhas (male) and Veera (female), the two beasts were found to be in good health but will be kept at the enclosure till another check up is conducted.
KNP veterinarians and experts from Namibia and South Africa examined Prabhas and Veera too. Of the 20 adult cheetahs translocated to Kuno, only two are now left in the free-range area of the park.
Extinct for decades, cheetahs news for all wrong reasons has stoked excitement. So far, five of the translocated cheetahs have suffered ailments, injuries, and infections. Three of the first litter of four born in India died from malnutrition and scorching summer at the park, where 11 of these wild cats roam unrestricted.
The big debate around the future of cheetahs in India still holds significance; whether the deaths are entirely from natural causes as the government wildlife expert insists or whether the prescribed scientific management techniques are not being applied to prive cheetah’s odds of survival.