Kuno Cheetah Crisis: Experts Step In

Following the deaths of three cheetahs in Kuno National Park, the National Tiger Conservation Authority enlisted experts from Reliance's wildlife facility to review heath protocols. Despite initial success, eight adult cheetahs have died since their intercontinental relocation. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey questioned the secrecy around GZRRC's involvement.

After the fatality of three cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park last year, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) sought expert intervention from Reliance's wildlife facility in Gujarat to scrutinize health monitoring protocols, according to official documents.

NTCA's Assistant Inspector General of Forests Abhishek Kumar reached out to Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) on May 11, 2023, following the deaths of three cheetahs within a span of six weeks, urging a review of health protocols to safeguard the felines' welfare. In his correspondence, Kumar highlighted the unprecedented nature and inherent challenges of Project Cheetah.

GZRRC dispatched a specialist team to Kuno on May 25, confirming that Kuno's protocols aligned with health care management standards. Despite this intervention, eight adult cheetahs have died since their relocation. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey criticized the clandestine nature of GZRRC's involvement, which was absent from NTCA reports and official project documentation.

(With inputs from agencies.)