Tragic news emerged from Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park as two more cheetah cubs succumbed to extreme weather conditions and dehydration, bringing the total number of deaths to three out of four recently born cubs. The cubs were born in March to a female cheetah named ‘Jwala.’ Officials reported that a two-month-old cub had already died earlier due to severe weakness.
The region experienced scorching temperatures, with the mercury reaching around 46-47 degrees Celsius on May 23, marking it as the hottest day. On Tuesday, a team discovered the cubs in a feeble and dehydrated state. Veterinarians were immediately alerted and provided essential medical care to the rescued cubs, who were underweight. Unfortunately, two more cheetah cubs lost their lives today.
The remaining cub has been transferred to a hospital in Palpur, and officials are in contact with experts from Namibia and South Africa to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
The Supreme Court has also expressed concern over the deaths of three cheetahs within two months. The court suggested that the cheetahs, which were translocated from South Africa and Namibia to Madhya Pradesh, should be relocated to neighboring Rajasthan.
The Supreme Court stated, “Three deaths in less than two months is a matter of serious concern. There are opinions of experts and articles in the media. It appears that Kuno is not sufficient for so many cheetahs.” The court also highlighted the concentration of cheetahs in one location and recommended exploring suitable areas in Rajasthan, emphasizing that political affiliations should not hinder the decision-making process.
Previous deaths within the park include a female cheetah named Sasha, who died on March 27 due to kidney ailment, Uday, who passed away on April 23 due to cardio-pulmonary failure, and Daksha, another female cheetah, who died on May 9 following a violent encounter with a male during a mating attempt.
Experts have cautioned about the potential for higher mortality rates in Kuno National Park and suggested the implementation of fencing in at least two or three cheetah habitats. South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe expressed his concerns, stating, “The reintroduction project is going to see even higher mortalities in the next few months when cheetahs try to establish territories and come face to face with leopards and tigers in the Kuno National Park.” He also highlighted that no successful reintroduction into an unfenced reserve has been recorded in history, with 15 failed attempts in South Africa alone.
