A high-profile effort to reintroduce African cheetahs in India has taken a grim turn, with eight cheetahs dying during the transportation process, leading to the dismissal of a top wildlife official. The ambitious project aimed to reintroduce the Asian cheetah, declared extinct in India in 1952, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a bid to revive the species, eight cheetahs were brought in from Namibia. Subsequently, an additional 12 cheetahs were transported from South Africa in February, and their release into the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was presided over by Prime Minister Modi himself.
Mystery Surrounding Cheetah Deaths Raises Questions
Over the past four months, eight cheetahs have died in the park. Wildlife authorities have attributed these deaths to natural causes. However, the recent dismissal of Jasbir Singh Chauhan, the senior wildlife officer in Madhya Pradesh, without any clear reason provided by the state forest department, has sparked speculation.
Challenges and Concerns in Project Administration
Indian media reports indicate that the removal of Jasbir Singh Chauhan may be connected to the cheetah fatalities. Sources claim that there were administrative issues within the project, raising concerns about its feasibility.
Translocation Woes and Project Feasibility
Adding to the tragedy, among the cheetahs that perished, five were translocated animals, and three were cubs born since their arrival. These additional deaths have intensified specialists’ doubts about the viability of the reintroduction project.
