A tragic discovery was made at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, where two African cheetah cubs were found dead, reported on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. Neerva, the mother cheetah, was seen leaving her den by forest workers using radio telemetry to track the cheetahs’ movements. During their investigation, officials discovered the disfigured remains of the two cubs inside the enclosure. A careful examination of the boma (enclosure) confirmed that Neerva had only produced two cubs. Project Cheetah Director Uttam Kumar Sharma stated that the carcasses would be cremated on Thursday, following established protocols.

Investigation Underway as Two African Cheetah Cubs Found Dead

To determine the cause of death, samples from the deceased cubs have been sent for analysis. Officials at Kuno National Park confirmed that all other cubs and adult cheetahs, including Neerva, are healthy. The park’s overall population of cheetahs remains at 24.

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Confusion Over the Number of Newborn Cubs

There were conflicting initial reports about Neerva’s birth offspring. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav initially announced on social media that Neerva had given birth to four cubs. However, he later clarified that the forest department would verify the exact number, and his earlier post was deleted. In a subsequent update, Yadav emphasized the significance of the birth of Project Cheetah.

This incident highlights the complexities of reintroducing cheetahs to India and a species declared extinct in the country due to habitat loss and hunting. As part of the world’s first transcontinental cheetah relocation project, eight cheetahs from Namibia were brought to KNP in September 2022, followed by 12 from South Africa in February 2023. The discovery that two African cheetah cubs were found dead underscores the need for stringent monitoring and care to ensure the project’s success.

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