Kuno Cheetah Deaths| Mortalities Troubling But Not ‘Unduly Alarming’: Centre To Supreme Court

In the wake of recent deaths of Cheetahs translocated to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park from the African continent, the Centre has informed the Supreme Court than even though the mortalities among the introduced cheetah population are troubling, they are not ‘unduly alarming’.

As per media reports, another cheetah has died in the Kuno national park this week, taking the number deaths to nine in the last five months.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in their most recent affidavit filed before the Apex Court have said that, the survival rates of Cheetahs in introduced population can be as low as 10%:

“… the general scientific awareness is that being an integral part of the ecosystem, cheetahs in general have low survival rates, I,e around 50% in adults even in non-introduced populations. In the case of introduced population the survival rates are even much lower taking other variables into account which may lead to about 10% survival in cubs, and thus, mortalities though troubling and in need to redressal and curtailment are not unduly alarming.” the affidavit states.

The Apex Court has been hearing an application moved by an expert committee constituted to ‘guide and direct’ the National Tiger Conservation Authority with respect to India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme. The expert committee has urged the top court to direct the NTCA to keep it apprised of latest developments and accept their advice and submissions.

“This may be a prestigious project. But forty percent of the cheetahs dying in less than one year does not [bode well], does it?” the Bench had asked the Centre in the previous hearing. 

The Centre has informed the Top Court that the deaths were not caused any inherent unsuitability at the Kuno site.

The Centre in its affidavit has stated that the post mortem of cheetah carcasses show that the two male cheetahs that have died in the month of July probably died due to traumatic shock. 3 cubs that died in May were found to be severely dehydrated and underweight, according the medical examination. One cheetah is said to have died due to deep puncture wounds and fracture of frontal bone wounds due to confrontation with two adult males during mating. Another died due to renal insufficiency and severe gastritis, the Centre has informed the Supreme Court.

The Centre has submitted that the deaths have been due to natural causes. “The provisional diagnosis of mortality events point towards natural causes and none of the cheetah have died due to unnatural reasons such as poaching, snaring, poisoning, road hits, electrocution etc.” the affidavit states.

The Centre has informed the Court that in view of the recent cheetah mortalities, the following steps are being taken to ensure well-being of the remaining cheetahs at Kuno site:

1. All cheetahs are being captured and critical medical examination is done.

2. Prophylactic treatment is being administered too all surviving cheetahs

3. A review of project implementation is being undertaken

4. International cheetah experts and veterinarians in cheetah management are being consulted.

5. Further training and capacity building of veterinarians, frontline staff and officials in cheetah management is being done.

The Centre has also informed the Court that a Steering Committee of experts from diverse fields has been formed to oversee and monitor the implementation of Project Cheetah. According to the Centre, the committee is collaborating with international cheetah experts for veterinary care, day-to-day management, and monitoring of cheetahs while adhering to the scientific Action Plan. The primary goal is to ensure the survival of cheetahs in their natural ecosystem by providing them with the best possible veterinary support and healthcare, the Centre states.

“Instead of having all of them in one place, why don’t you consider moving them to different sites?”, the Court had asked the Centre in its previous hearing.

The Centre in its affidavit has stated that as per the Action Plan, Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Nuaradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Shahgarh Bulge, Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and enclosure of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan have been identified as the potential sites for cheetah introduction. The introduction will depend on the availability of cheetahs from African countries for sourcing, as well as the suitability of the habitat, prey availability, and on-ground protection measures. To account for these variables, the cheetah introduction is being carried out in phases according to the Centre. Efforts are underway to prepare Kuno National Park, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Nuaradehi Wildlife Sanctuary for the introduction of cheetahs, the Centre has informed the Court. Subsequently, all other potential introduction sites, including Mukundra, will be prepared in a phased manner following the advice of the Steering Committee, the Affidavit states.

On the ambitious project undertaken by the government, the affidavit states that reintroductions/conservation translocations of large carnivores is now widely acknowledged as a global approach to safeguard endangered species and restore ecosystem balance. The Cheetah is the sole large carnivore that was eradicated from India primarily due to historical factors such as excessive hunting and habitat loss, the Centre says.

‘Since India now has the economic ability to consider restoring the country’s lost national heritage both for ethical as well as for ecological reasons, the Government of India has embarked on a historic project to reintroduce the Cheetah in independent India.’ the Centre has submitted before the Top Court. 

The implementation of the cheetah introduction project at the Kuno Site, is being carried out with the coordinated effort of both the State of Madhya Pradesh and the Central Govt. The day to day management, protection, monitoring and project implementation at field level are the responsibility of the state. At the national level, the project is being monitored by the NTCA with the technical assistance/guidance from Steering Committee and the Wildlife Institute of India. The NTCA’s responsibilities include providing financial and technical support for implementing the Project, the affidavit states.