Tragic Loss: Cheetah Cub Dies Shortly After Release in Kuno National Park

Cheetah Cub's Untimely Death

A ten-month-old cheetah cub tragically passed away at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, just one day after being released into the wild alongside its mother and sibling.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had released the cheetah named Veera and her two cubs from their enclosures into the Parond forest area of Sheopur district.

During the night, the cub became separated from Veera and its sibling, as reported by the field director of the Cheetah Project.

The exact cause of death will be determined following a post-mortem examination, the official stated.

Currently, Kuno National Park is home to 28 cheetahs, which includes eight adults and 20 cubs born in India, according to park administration.

Since the beginning of 2023, at least 15 cheetahs have died in the park.

In September 2022, cheetahs were reintroduced to India under Project Cheetah, marking the species' return after being declared extinct in the country for seven decades. These animals were sourced from African nations such as Namibia and South Africa.

On November 12, India and Botswana officially announced plans to translocate eight more cheetahs as part of the next phase of the initiative. These animals will first be kept in a quarantine facility in Botswana before their transfer to India.

The Indian government officially declared the cheetah extinct in 1952, with the last recorded sightings occurring in 1948 when three cheetahs were shot in the sal forests of Koriya District in Chhattisgarh.