Seven out of 20 cheetahs died within the first year and the forest department remained “overly cautious”. (Ministry of Public Transport)
To ensure their own survival, the feral cats have been dragged into large pens and kept in captivity since July last year – contrary to Operation Cheetah's plan
An unusual delay in the release of cheetahs flown from their African home in 2022 has wildlife experts worried. The cats currently live in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, where three cats died unexpectedly last year due to a “mysterious” infection during the monsoon and were hastily recaptured.
To increase their chances of survival, the wild cats have been hauled into captivity in large pens since July 2023, contrary to the Operation Cheetah Plan, which aims to establish “a free-ranging cheetah population that breeds in the wild.” wilderness'. These “predator-proof” fences are big, but not “big” enough for the world's fastest land animal, which can sprint over 110 km/h in just three seconds.
By now, these animals have spent more time in captivity than in the wild since their historic migration.
“Promises, assurances and more announcements. In August 2023, we were told that the captured cheetahs would be released by October-November 2023. Now we are told that the cats will be released once the monsoon has fully receded. Based on global experience and Namibian laws and policies, releasing these cheetahs is not a good idea because of their extremely long captivity times, especially captive-born cubs,” senior wildlife biologist and conservation scientist Ravi Chela Ravi Chellam said.
Is this a zoo or a conservation event?
A Cheetah Steering Committee established by the government ensures that the cats continue to hunt independently. However, forestry staff promptly replenished the prey population, namely cheetahs. These cats are largely protected from leopards, which would become their worst enemies in the wild. They were also bred in captivity last year, giving birth to 12 pups that had yet to hone their hunting skills.
“Are we bringing these cheetahs to keep them in captivity? Is this the objective of the reintroduction exercise? Senior wildlife conservationist Dr MK Ranjitsinh, who played a crucial role in the early cheetah reintroduction process, asked News18 Several wildlife experts and scientists across India continue to express dismay at the world's largest wildlife experiment, likening their current conditions to “almost like a zoo.”
The longer animals are kept in captivity, the weaker they become. Seven out of 20 cheetahs died within the first year and the forest department remained “overly cautious”. “There is no need to hold them for such a long time. Mortality is expected. We have to be bold,” said a senior wildlife scientist, noting that Operation Cheetah had projected a 50 percent mortality rate.
Follow the world's largest wildlife experiment
Seven cheetahs died within the first year, including three during the monsoon alone, and authorities were unwilling to take any risks. But now their impending release has sparked more concerns.
Research in Africa suggests that the release of captive-bred/captivity-raised large carnivores can be “difficult and challenging” as the animals show poor survival after release due to a lack of a full set of natural behaviours.
“We have to release the cheetahs after the rains. The weather is not as hot and humid as before. We will consult the meteorological department and after the monsoon ends, the cheetahs will be released. Rajesh Gopal, chairman of the steering committee of Project Cheetah : “The Cheetah Project Steering Committee has approved the long-awaited freedom for these captive animals. They have been fully vaccinated and will also be radio-collared before release.
Madhya Pradesh forest department officials confirmed that the final release schedule has not been finalized and is still in the discussion stage. The female cheetahs and their cubs will not be released because the cubs are less than a year old.
The animals are promoted as a 'symbol' of wildlife conservation in India, helping to improve livelihood opportunities for local communities in remote areas of Kuno, but 24 months on, we still don't seem to know what to do with the 'imported' cheetahs.
