On Monday, July 31, the Union environment ministry and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) provided a joint affidavit to the Supreme Court regarding the cheetah deaths that occurred at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park. According to the provisional diagnosis, the deaths are attributed to natural causes, and while they are concerning, the government stated that they are not excessively alarming.
The Supreme Court had previously raised concerns about the African cheetah deaths at Kuno National Park, prompting the court to request a detailed affidavit explaining the reasons behind the fatalities and the measures being taken to address the situation.
The affidavit clarified that none of the cheetahs died due to unnatural causes like poaching, snaring, poisoning, road accidents, or electrocution. The NTCA does not believe that the mortalities occurred due to any inherent unsuitability at the Kuno site.
The affidavit also highlighted that cheetahs have a low survival rate, particularly in introduced populations like the one at Kuno National Park, where the survival rate of cubs may be around 10%. Nevertheless, the government assured that proper veterinary care, monitoring, and management are being carried out by experienced cheetah experts, following a scientific Action Plan to ensure the cheetahs’ survival in their natural ecosystem.
The affidavit stated that prophylactic treatment is administered to all surviving cheetahs, and a review of project implementation is ongoing. Additionally, the government has identified other potential sites for cheetah introduction in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, including Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, and others. However, Mukundra Hills in Rajasthan is presently not suitable for accommodating cheetahs.
Overall, the joint affidavit aims to address concerns and demonstrate that efforts are being made to ensure the well-being and survival of the cheetah population in India.