Tragic Loss: Namibian Cheetah Shaurya Passes Away at Kuno National Park
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the majestic Namibian cheetah named Shaurya breathed his last at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, India. Forest Minister Nagar Singh Chouhan confirmed this devastating news, marking the tenth loss since the reintroduction of African big cats in India in 2022.
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The exact cause of Shaurya’s untimely demise remains unknown, pending a post-mortem examination, according to a statement released by the forest department.
Forest Minister Chouhan, upon receiving the report of Shaurya’s passing, expressed his sorrow over the loss of the Namibian cheetah at KNP, located in Sheopur district.
The male cheetah was first noticed exhibiting abnormal walking behavior by the dedicated tracking team around 11 am. Consequently, he was tranquilized, and attempts were made to revive him. Tragically, these efforts proved futile, and the feline succumbed to complications post-revival, eventually passing away at 3.17 pm.
A Devastating Trend: Ten Cheetah Fatalities Since March 2023
This heart-wrenching loss adds to the growing number of cheetah fatalities at Kuno National Park. Since March 2023, a total of seven adult cheetahs, including Shaurya, and three cubs have tragically lost their lives due to various reasons.
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The adult cheetahs who have previously passed away include Sasha (March 27, 2023), Uday (April 23, 2023), Daksha (May 9, 2023), Tejas (July 11, 2023), Suraj (July 14, 2023), Dhatri (August 2, 2023), and Shaurya (January 16, 2023).
Furthermore, among the four cubs born to the translocated Namibian cheetah named ‘Jwala,’ one sadly perished on May 23, 2023, while the remaining two succumbed to a similar fate on May 25, 2023.
As of now, the Kuno National Park is home to 17 surviving cheetahs, comprising six males, seven females, and four cubs.
A Journey of Hope: Reviving the Cheetah Population in India
India declared cheetahs extinct in the country back in 1952. However, in a remarkable effort to restore their population, the central government initiated the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, which involved translocating cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park.
In September 2022, eight big cats, including five females and three males from Namibia, were released into enclosures at KNP. Subsequently, in February 2023, an additional 12 cheetahs arrived at the park from South Africa.
Although progress has been made, challenges persist. In December of the same year, four cheetahs were released into the wild, but two had to be captured and relocated to enclosures. One of these cheetahs, named Agni, was tranquilized in Baran district, Rajasthan, and brought back to KNP.
Last year, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the cheetah deaths, prompting the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to assure preventive measures. They stated that while the loss is troubling, it is not considered “unduly alarming,” and surviving cheetahs are being captured and medically examined as a precautionary measure.
In conclusion, the unfortunate demise of Namibian cheetah Shaurya at Kuno National Park is a devastating blow to the ongoing efforts to revive their population in India. It is essential for authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of death and implement necessary measures to safeguard the remaining cheetahs in the park.
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