'Why Is This A Prestige Issue': SC Suggests Shifting Cheetahs To Rajasthan Amidst Deaths In Kuno National Park

The SC asked the Central government why all the Cheetahs translocated to India from Namibia and South Africa were only sent to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The apex court raised concerns during a hearing of a plea regarding animal welfare, questioning the Central government's decision to send all the translocated Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa exclusively to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

Source : Getty/PTI

In response to the recent deaths of Cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, the Supreme Court proposed on Thursday that some of the wild cats could be shifted to Rajasthan. The apex court raised concerns during a hearing of a plea regarding animal welfare, questioning the Central government's decision to send all the translocated Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa exclusively to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai, JB Paridwala, and Prashant Kumar Mishra expressed distress over the swift and alarming number of Cheetah deaths, stating that it presents a worrisome scenario. 

"Two more deaths last week. Why is this becoming a prestige issue? Please take some positive steps. Also, why were they all put in one place instead of being spread? 40 per cent of deaths occurring in less than a year does not paint a good picture," said Justice Gavai, as reported by Bar and Bench.

Justice Gavai further recommended exploring the possibility of establishing another sanctuary for Cheetahs in Rajasthan, specifically mentioning Jawai National Park, known for its high frequency of leopard sightings. The park is situated approximately 200 kilometres from Udaipur and is renowned for its favourable conditions for wildlife.

Last year in September, twenty Cheetahs were translocated to India with the goal of reviving the population of these magnificent creatures in the country. However, since March this year, eight Cheetahs have tragically died in Kuno National Park, with various reasons attributed to their deaths.

Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Vijay Shah addressed the issue last week, stating that the deaths may be common among wild animals due to conflicts over food or mating. A postmortem is currently underway, and more information is awaited regarding the recent death of a male Cheetah named Suraj, who was translocated from Africa and passed away at Kuno National Park on Friday, as confirmed by forest officials.

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