Sheopur: In a recent incident at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, an African cheetah that had been translocated sustained injuries during a fight with other cheetahs. The injured cheetah, named Agni, is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable and good health, according to P.K. Verma, a divisional forest official.
The altercation occurred between two cheetahs, Gaurav and Shaurya, who were translocated from Namibia, and Agni and Vayu, who were brought from South Africa. The clash happened in the free range area of KNP at around 6 PM on Monday. In an attempt to intervene, officials resorted to sounding sirens and bursting crackers to disperse the fighting cheetahs, as shared by Verma.
Agni was subsequently tranquillized and is now under the care of doctors for necessary treatment. Verma emphasized that the injured cheetah’s condition is stable, and despite such fights being a regular occurrence, Agni is expected to recover well.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ambitious project to revive the extinct cheetah population in India’s wild on September 17, 2022. As part of this initiative, five female and three male cheetahs were brought from Namibia and released into enclosures at KNP. Subsequently, in February 2023, 12 cheetahs were translocated from South Africa.
However, since March, the park has experienced unfortunate losses, with six cheetahs, including three of the four cubs born within the park, passing away. These incidents highlight the challenges of reintroducing cheetahs into the wild and the complexities involved in managing their interactions within a new environment. Efforts are underway to closely monitor and ensure the well-being of the remaining cheetah population in Kuno National Park.