A South African wildlife expert said the mortality rate of these cheetahs amid their reintroduction will see a spike in the coming months.
The death of two more cheetah cubs in the Kuno National Park raised worries over the future of Project Cheetah in India. The mortality rate of these cheetahs amid their reintroduction will see a spike in the coming months, South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe told news agency PTI.
Cheetahs Elton and Freddie popularly known as Rockstars released in the wild in Kuno National Park.(PTI)
Cheetahs Elton and Freddie popularly known as Rockstars released in the wild in Kuno National Park.(PTI)
He added that there are chances that the mortality rate could shoot up to 50% in the first year. “We anticipate a 50 per cent mortality in the first year, we know that only 10 are going to survive the initial release period. There’s going to be more than enough prey for them,” he said
According to him, the deaths will be higher as these big cats will try to establish territories and encounter leopards and tigers inside the national park. He further pointed out that the recent deaths were within the acceptable range, however, killing of female cheetah by males during courtship was uncalled for based on a team of experts who reviewed the project.
Merwe is closely associated with the Indian government’s much vaunted project to repopulate cheetahs in the country.
How could India save cheetahs?
The wildlife expert suggested fencing the habitats to control giving access to resources to other animals and reduce overall threat to these reintroduced cheetahs.
He said that the reintroduction of cheetahs in an unfenced reserve was never successful. Africa tried it 15 times and failed.
Several experts, even the Supreme Court, have expressed concerns over lack of space and logistical support in Kuno park and have suggested shifting cheetahs to other sanctuaries.
Merwe recommended getting at least two to three cheetah to Mukundra Hills and let them breed there.
“Mukundra Hills is fully fenced. We know that cheetahs will do very well there. The only problem is that it’s not fully stocked at the moment. So you’ll have to bring in some black buck and chinkara. And when the fencing is completed at Nauradehi and Gandhisagar, we will have three fenced reserves and then we are absolutely winning,” he said.