In another setback for Project Cheetah, two more cubs have tragically lost their lives in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, just two days after a cub’s demise. With this, three out of four Cheetah cubs have lost their lives, posing a threat to India’s ambitious Cheetah project.
South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe expressed his views on the situation, stating, “We anticipate a 50 per cent mortality in the first year… There’s going to be more than enough prey for them.” He also emphasized the need for fenced habitats to control access to resources and reduce threats to the cheetahs.
Additionally, he suggested bringing two to three cheetahs to the fully fenced Mukundra Hills for breeding. Regarding the deaths, he explained that such mortality is expected during relocation, as cheetahs establish territories and encounter other animals. He warned, “The worst mortalities are still to come.”