https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Has 3 Deaths Affected The Ambitious Cheetah Project?

Three cheetahs died in March, April and May at Kuno National Park Four cubs born to Siyaya on March 24 are doing well High-mast cameras, radio collars and satellites are monitoring the imported big cats
Indian Masterminds Stories

Even as four healthy cheetah cubs continue to thrive in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, the seat of Modi government’s ambitious project aimed at reviving the cheetah population in India that ended 70 years back, a third death from among the 20 big cats imported from Africa has raised alarm among wildlife enthusiasts.

Sasha died in March followed by Uday in April and Daksha in May. Indian Masterminds got in touch with Kuno National Park DFO Prakash Verma, an IFS, to get insights into these recent deaths and how the project was shaping.

Picture Credit: Kuno National Park

DECODING DEATHS

Five-year-old female Sasha, one of the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in September last year died of kidney ailment on March 27, 2023. She was not keeping well since her arrival. “Experts already told us that it was impossible to save her. We even questioned the African authorities as to why she was sent if she was already sick,” Mr. Verma shared.

On the other hand, the preliminary report of six-year-old Uday’s autopsy showed it passed away due to the pulmonary cardiac arrest. Uday landed in India in February along with 11 more cheetahs from South Africa. The officer said the team of experienced Indian veterinarians shared the same reason of the demise. However, we haven’t received the toxicology report yet.

Picture Credit: Kuno National Park

Female Daksha, who came to India along with Uday, died on May 9 after a confrontation with two male cheetahs inside an enclosure. Female Cheetah Daksha’s death lead to three deaths within 43 days.

VERDICT NOT OUT

So do the deaths signal towards a failure?

Statistic shows that similar programs undertaken around the world have recorded over 50% mortality. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, South Africa stated that the deaths of two cheetahs in KNP are within expected mortality rates for a project of this nature.

Picture Credit: Kuno National Park

IFS Verma also pointed out that the South African and Namibian doctors confirmed that the deaths were normal phenomenon. They also said that it was surprising that no casualties took place during the translocation in the initial days.

Sharing about a similar project in Zambia, Mr. Verma informed that around 9 cheetahs out of 22 succumbed after that translocation.

Amid the gloom, on March 24, Siyaya gave birth to four healthy cubs. Their mortality rate is usually 95% in the first two months but the officer shared that the newborns were doing fine.

Video Credit: Kuno National Park

CLOSE MONITORING

KNP has a team who are using latest technologies for 24X7 monitoring of the cheetahs. From high-mast cameras to radio collars to satellites the reintroduced species are under constant surveillance.

No tourism activity has been started yet in the area where the cheetah enclosure is located as this can increase the animals’ stress level. “We are still undergoing the training phase and once the cheetah population is established, we will start the tourism,” the officer concluded.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Panna police
Panna Police Under Siege: SHO and Constable Injured as Villagers Launch Brutal Attack
Panna police
Khaki Power on the Podium: MP Police Shine at All India Police Games 2025 with Gold, Yoga & Judo Glory
India Russia R-37M missile talks
India Russia R-37M Missile Talks Advances to Arm Su-30MKI fighters
IAF MRFA project
114 Fighters, One Mission — MoD Pushes for 100% Indian Involvement in IAF MRFA Project
Ias sam rizvi
Hyderabad: Principal Secretary IAS SAM Rizvi Opts for Voluntary Retirement Amid Dispute with Telangana Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao
MP-Police-
Madhya Pradesh IPS Transfers: 7 Senior Officers Shifted in Midnight Reshuffle; Rajababu Singh, Irshad Wali Among Key Names
Powergrid
POWERGRID Strengthens National Grid Connectivity with Acquisition of 2 Key TBCB Projects Worth ₹3,375 Crore
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Panna police
Panna Police Under Siege: SHO and Constable Injured as Villagers Launch Brutal Attack
Panna police
Khaki Power on the Podium: MP Police Shine at All India Police Games 2025 with Gold, Yoga & Judo Glory
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT