Officials to Embark on Study Tours to Revive Cheetah Population in Madhya Pradesh

In a meeting with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that officials involved in the cheetah revival plan would be sent on study tours to Namibia and South Africa. These tours aim to gather insights and knowledge from these countries, where cheetahs have been successfully brought to the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh. Minister Yadav himself will be visiting the KNP located in Sheopur district on June 6.

During the meeting, Minister Yadav assured the provision of financial and logistical support for the safety, conservation, and revival of the cheetah population. This comes after the unfortunate death of six cheetahs at the KNP since March this year. Among them were three cubs born to cheetah Jwala, which died earlier this month. Other fatalities include Sasha, a Namibian cheetah who passed away due to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, and Uday, a cheetah brought from South Africa, who died on April 13. Another cheetah named Daksha, also from South Africa, succumbed to injuries following a violent interaction with a male cheetah during a mating attempt on May 9.

To address the issue of declining cheetah numbers, the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is being prepared as an alternative habitat for these majestic felines. Minister Yadav emphasized that the current cheetah population in the KNP is lower than its capacity. Chief Minister Chouhan expressed his concern over the recent deaths of three cheetah cubs, acknowledging that the survival rate of cheetah cubs is generally low worldwide. However, he affirmed his government's commitment to ensuring the well-being of these big cats.

In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an ambitious reintroduction program by releasing eight Namibian cheetahs, consisting of five females and three males, into special enclosures at the KNP. Subsequently, in February this year, twelve cheetahs from South Africa, comprising seven males and five females, were also brought to the national park.

The study tours to Namibia and South Africa will provide valuable insights into successful cheetah conservation efforts, which can be adapted and implemented in the revival plan for the cheetah population in Madhya Pradesh. By learning from these experiences and utilizing the knowledge gained, officials aim to ensure a brighter future for the cheetahs in India.

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