SC Flags Concerns Over Cheetah Deaths Impacting India’s Prestige; Seeks Immediate Action

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has raised concerns over the deaths of cheetahs that were translocated from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh. Within the last four months, a total of eight cheetahs, including three cubs, have died, prompting the court to urge the Centre not to make this a prestige issue and to take immediate positive action.

A three-judge bench, led by Justice BR Gavai, questioned why all the cheetahs were placed in one location instead of being spread out. The court also inquired about the arrangements for a secure transfer to Rajasthan.

The Additional Solicitor General, Aishwarya Bhati, representing the government, assured the court that they were dedicated to the prestigious cheetah conservation project. However, the court expressed concern about the high death rate, with 40% of the translocated cheetahs dying within a year.

Justice Pardiwala asked about the cause of deaths, and the ASG explained that infections had been leading to fatalities. A detailed analysis of each death is currently underway.

In response to the situation, the court directed the Centre to file a comprehensive response, considering the option of shifting the remaining cheetahs to Rajasthan. The matter is scheduled for a hearing on August 1.

The cheetah reintroduction project in India involved the release of eight Namibian cheetahs in September, followed by 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February. Despite the birth of four cubs, the recent deaths have reduced the cheetah count to 16 from the initial 24. The cheetah once declared extinct in India in 1952, faces critical challenges in its reintroduction efforts.