Scientists fear that an Indian park is not enough space for the planned population — and that not enough work has been done with locals on how they will respond to the animals The world’s first intercontinental cheetah-introduction programme hit a setback last month when it emerged that three relocated animals, and three of their cubs, had died in the space of eight months. The scientists and officials behind the 500-million-rupee (US$6 million) conservation project, which was launched with great fanfare and the support of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, say they will carry on with the project. But several independent scientists question whether this is wise and the project’s long-term viability. They expressed concern that the space reserved in India for the cheetahs is too sm...
Read MoreTag: Kuno National Park
India will receive 12 cheetahs from South Africa next month that will join eight others it received from Namibia in September as part of an ambitious plan to reintroduce the cats in the country after 70 years. India and South Africa have finally signed an MoU to transport a dozen cheetahs from this African country next month and reintroduce them in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. FILE PHOTO: A cheetah moves around inside a quarantine section at a reserve near Bella Bella, South Africa, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. South African wildlife officials plan to send more cheetahs to India. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell) India plans to transport an additional 12 annually for the next eight to 10 years as part of an agreement signed by the two African countries, India’s Ministry of Environm...
Read MoreBut South African expert says, both can co-exist despite conflict As eight Namibia-born cheetahs complete more than 50 days in their new home Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, a South Africa-based animal conservationist has expressed concern over the high density of leopards in the sanctuary, but said the two carnivores have a history of co-existence as well. The cheetahs were flown from the African country and released in the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district with much fanfare on September 17 as part of a project to revive their population in India, seven decades after they were declared extinct. Since their arrival at KNP, the big cats have been kept inside quarantine enclosures, where they completed 51 days on November 6. Meanwhile, two cheetahs have been releas...
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