South African Wildlife Experts to Assess Preparations for Cheetah’s Second Home in India

A delegation of wildlife experts from South Africa is set to arrive in India next month to evaluate the readiness of Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to become the second home for cheetahs in the country, according to officials.

The visit aims to assess the conditions at the sanctuary, which has been earmarked for the reintroduction of cheetahs into India. This initiative is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Project Cheetah, aimed at restoring the population of this endangered species in the country.

Recent developments include the birth of seven cheetah cubs from two female Namibian cheetahs. However, officials are cautious about releasing them into the wild until weather conditions improve.

The decision on importing more cheetahs from South Africa will hinge on the assessment conducted by the visiting South African delegation. SP Yadav, Additional Director General of Forests at the Environment Ministry, has indicated that the next batch of cheetahs for the sanctuary is likely to be sourced from South Africa.

Significant progress has been made in preparing the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary for its new inhabitants, with approximately 90% of the necessary work completed. Spanning 368 square kilometers, the sanctuary, located about a six-hour drive from Kuno, offers ample space for the cheetahs to thrive.

Efforts are also underway to ensure the well-being of the existing cheetah population. This includes providing larger enclosures for mother cheetahs and their cubs to protect them from extreme weather conditions and facilitate better monitoring.

The recent births have brought the total number of cheetah cubs in the Kuno National Park to eight, contributing to the existing population of 21 cheetahs, consisting of six males, seven females, and eight cubs. However, the project has encountered challenges, such as unexpected health complications due to the development of winter coats by some cheetahs during the Indian summer and monsoon seasons.

Despite these challenges, plans for the project’s second year include focusing on breeding efforts and administering preventive medicine to safeguard the cheetahs from infections during the monsoon season. The Project Cheetah initiative remains committed to the reintroduction and conservation of cheetahs in India, striving to ensure the long-term survival of this iconic species.