Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a crucial high-level meeting to assess the progress of Project Cheetah in the aftermath of recent cheetah deaths at MP’s Kuno National Park. The upcoming meeting, which is planned for Wednesday at 11 am, will have the participation of a range of individuals. These include Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Aseem Shrivastava, who holds the position of Madhya Pradeshs Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Wildlife representatives, from the National Tiger Conservation Authority of India (NTCA) and members of the Cheetah Screening Committee. Shivraj Singh Chouhan might also be present in this session.
The concerns arose after the unfortunate demise of two male cheetahs, Tejas and Suraj, which brought scrutiny to the execution of protocols on the ground. Wildlife experts have raised questions about the monitoring and timely response measures in place.
“Project Cheetah” is an ambitious initiative by the Central Government, wherein eight cheetahs were translocated from Namibia during its first phase, released on the Prime Minister’s birthday on September 17 last year. In the second phase, 12 more cheetahs were brought from South Africa on February 18 this year. However, the project has faced challenges, with eight cheetahs, including three cubs born to Namibian female cheetah Siyaya, having died at Kuno National Park since then.
The recent deaths of Tejas and Suraj have been attributed to maggot infection resulting from radio collars (GPS-fitted belts around their necks). Wildlife experts suspect that the radio collars may have caused injuries to the cheetahs. Adding to the growing concerns, on Tuesday, three more cheetahs were found infected by Septicemia caused by radio collars.
The high-level meeting will seek to address these alarming developments and strategize for the protection and successful implementation of Project Cheetah. The discussion will focus on identifying the root causes of the cheetah deaths, bolstering monitoring protocols, and ensuring prompt response measures to safeguard the cheetahs’ well-being. As an ambitious conservation effort, Project Cheetah aims to reintroduce the majestic predators to their natural habitat, and this meeting will play a critical role in shaping its future course.