Two Kuno cheetahs make their first kill within 24 hours after being released into larger enclosure

Kuno, Nov 7: Two cheetahs who were flown in from Namibia and released in Kuno National Park made their first kill within 24 hours of being released into a large enclosure. This development is significant in the process of the introduction of cheetahs at Kuno because it indicates that the wild cats are willing to adapt to their new home.

 

 

 

Freddie and Elton were the first pair to be released into the larger enclosure on November 5 after being quarantined for about 50 days. They hunted down a cheetal, a deer somewhere between 6 pm Sunday and Monday morning. It should be noted that two African Cheetahs have had, till now, never seen a cheetal which is neither found in Namibia, from where the cheetahs were brought to India, nor the entire African continent.

 

Speaking about the same, PM Narendra Modi, tweeted, "Great news! Am told that after the mandatory quarantine, 2 cheetahs have been released to a bigger enclosure for further adaptation to the Kuno habitat. Others will be released soon. I’m also glad to know that all cheetahs are healthy, active and adjusting well"

 

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released cheetahs in Kuno National Park on September 17 and called it a historic moment. On Saturday, he expressed happiness at the cheetahs being released into their larger enclosure and doing well.

 

The release of the two cheetahs came after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change received a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Animal Husbandry for quarantine clearance to be released in a big enclosure.

 

 

The habitat that has been selected in Kuno is very beautiful and ideal, where there is a large tract of grasslands, small hills, and forests and it is very much suitable for cheetahs. Heavy security arrangements in Kuno National park to prevent poaching activities have been made.

 

Radio collars have been installed in all the cheetahs and monitored through satellite. Apart from this, there is a dedicated monitoring team behind each cheetah that keeps monitoring the location for 24 hours . Under the ambitious project of the Indian government-Project Cheetah- the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetahs are being undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

 

India has a long history of wildlife conservation. One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures 'Project Tiger' which was initiated way back in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also to the entire ecosystem.

 

In 1947-48, the last three cheetahs were hunted by the Maharaja of Korea in Chhattisgarh and the last cheetah was seen at the same time. In 1952 the Government of India declared Cheetahs as extinct and since then Modi government has restored cheetahs after almost 75 years.