A delegation from South Africa, comprising wildlife experts, is scheduled to visit India in February to evaluate the conditions at Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, slated to become the second home for cheetahs in the country. The assessment is a crucial step in the conservation initiative, known as Project Cheetah, which aims to reintroduce cheetahs to India. Officials have reported that 90 percent of the preparations at the sanctuary have been completed.
The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated about a six-hour drive from the Kuno National Park, which plays a pivotal role in the cheetah reintroduction project. The upcoming visit by the South African delegation to check Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary will play a key role in determining the next steps, including the timing of bringing the next batch of cheetahs to the sanctuary.
Recently, two female Namibian cheetahs, Jwala and Asha, gave birth to a total of seven cubs at the Kuno National Park. While this is a positive development for the project, officials have emphasized that the cheetahs will be released into the wild only when weather conditions improve. The mothers and their cubs are currently housed in larger enclosures to provide protection from extreme weather conditions and facilitate better monitoring.
The recent births have brought the total number of cheetah cubs at the Kuno National Park to eight, with seven born this month alone. The park currently hosts a total of 21 cheetahs, including six males, seven females, and the eight cubs. The successful births mark a significant milestone in the conservation efforts, contributing to the establishment of a stable and self-sustaining cheetah population.
Despite the positive developments, the cheetah conservation project has faced challenges, including unexpected developments such as the development of winter coats by some cheetahs during the Indian summer and monsoon. This led to itching, bruising, maggot infestations, and bacterial infections, resulting in the deaths of some cheetahs.
To address these challenges, officials plan to import cheetahs that do not develop thicker winter coats, and prophylactic measures will be administered to prevent infections. The focus in the project’s second year will be on breeding and ensuring the well-being of the cheetah population in India.
Project Cheetah, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to reintroduce cheetahs, the only large carnivore species that went extinct in independent India. While the initiative has drawn criticism over the deaths of some animals, officials remain committed to overcoming challenges and contributing to the conservation of this iconic species. The collaboration between India and South Africa in the cheetah reintroduction project reflects a shared commitment to wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation.