Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh – The untimely demise of three cheetahs within the past two months, with another cheetah currently battling illness, has raised alarm bells for both the Madhya Pradesh government and local villagers at Kuno National Park. The villagers, who had anticipated the positive impact of the Cheetah Project on the region’s development, are now expressing deep concern for the cheetahs’ health and well-being. In an effort to seek divine intervention, they have organized recitals of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and Sunderkand.
The initiative, led by local folk artist Giriraj Paliwal, has brought together villagers at the Mansapuran Hanuman temple to perform havan and offer prayers for the remaining cheetahs. The air is thick with anxiety and apprehension as the villagers fervently pray for the survival and recovery of the endangered cheetahs.
The cheetahs in question were brought to Kuno National Park from Namibia on September 17, 2022, under the auspices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cheetah Project was launched with the release of eight cheetahs, comprising five females and three males. Subsequently, on February 18, 2023, an additional batch of 12 cheetahs, seven males, and five females, arrived from South Africa.
While the introduction of cheetahs to the park was met with great enthusiasm, the recent spate of cheetah deaths has cast a pall of concern over the ambitious conservation project. The Madhya Pradesh government, which had been hopeful about the cheetahs’ successful acclimatization and breeding in the park, is now grappling with the unexpected loss of these magnificent animals.
The exact cause of the cheetah deaths and the illness affecting the remaining cheetah are yet to be determined. Wildlife experts and veterinarians have been mobilized to investigate the matter thoroughly and provide appropriate medical care to the ailing cheetah.
The Kuno National Park, nestled in the Vindhya Range, has long been identified as a potential habitat for the reintroduction of the cheetah, which went extinct in India nearly seven decades ago. The Cheetah Project was a significant step toward reviving the species and reestablishing its presence in the Indian subcontinent. However, the recent setbacks have raised concerns about the efficacy of the project and the challenges involved in ensuring the cheetahs’ survival in their new environment.
As investigations into the cheetah deaths and illness continue, local authorities are working closely with conservationists and wildlife organizations to address the situation promptly. Efforts are being made to identify any potential environmental factors, diseases, or other underlying causes that may have contributed to the unfortunate incidents.
The villagers, who had anticipated positive outcomes from the Cheetah Project, are now calling for urgent measures to protect and support the remaining cheetahs. Their collective prayers, infused with hopes of a swift recovery for the ailing cheetah and the survival of the species, reflect the deep-rooted connection between the local communities and the wildlife they coexist with.
The Madhya Pradesh government remains committed to the conservation and revival of the cheetah population in India. It is in close coordination with national and international stakeholders, exploring every avenue to ensure the well-being and sustainability of these majestic animals.
As the nation awaits further developments in this critical situation, the prayers and wishes of the villagers and wildlife enthusiasts across the country unite in the hope for a positive outcome, where the cheetahs are well .
