consider shifting them to other sanctuaries.(sanctuaries.)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over the death of three cheetahs that were shifted from South Africa and Namibia to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP) in less than two months and asked the Center to keep away from politics. Rise up and consider shifting them to Rajasthan. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol said that it appears from the reports and articles of experts that KNP is not sufficient for such a large number of cheetahs and the central government may consider shifting them to other sanctuaries.(sanctuaries.)

The apex court bench said, “Three deaths (of cheetahs) in less than two months is a matter of grave concern.” There are opinions of experts and articles in the media. It appears that the number of cheetahs in Kuno is very high. There is not enough space for so many cheetahs. Why don’t you look for a suitable place in Rajasthan? Just because Rajasthan is ruled by the opposition party, it does not mean, you will not consider it.’ Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Center said that the task force found out the reasons for the death of 3 leopards. and is examining all possible aspects including shifting them to other sanctuaries.

We are not attacking the government, worried about the deaths- SC
On 27 March this year, a female cheetah named Sasha (from Namibia) died due to kidney ailment, on 23 April Uday (from South Africa) died due to cardio-pulmonary failure and on 9 May Daksha died. Another South African female cheetah named, died in a violent fight with a male cheetah during an attempted mating. The bench said that it appeared from the reports that one female cheetah died after getting injured during a fight between two male cheetahs over mating and one died of kidney related ailment.

The Supreme Court bench said, ‘We came to know that the cheetah which died due to kidney related disease was suffering from the problem before it was brought to India. The question is, how was the female cheetah allowed to be brought to India, if she was already ill? ASG Aishwarya Bhati said postmortems of all the deaths have been done and the task force is probing the matter. The bench said, ‘You are bringing cheetahs from abroad, it is a good thing. But they need to be protected. They need to be given suitable accommodation, why don’t you look for a more suitable accommodation than Kuno? We are not blaming the government, but are expressing concern over the deaths.

Cheetahs are getting used well in Kuno, 4 cubs are born – Center
Aishwarya Bhati said that a cheetah has given birth to 4 cubs, which shows that they are getting used well in Kuno. Justice BR Gavai, who is heading the apex court’s green bench, said environmental issues concern him a lot and it is a subject close to his heart. ASG Bhati said that the death of cheetahs is not unusual, but the task force is conducting a thorough investigation and if the court wants, the government would like to file an additional affidavit giving details of the deaths.
Options for forest sanctuaries other than Kuno are open – Center
Justice Gavai told Bhati, ‘Don’t bring party-politics into this issue. Consider all available accommodations, whichever is suitable for them. I would be happy if the cheetahs are brought to Maharashtra. Bhati said that Mukundra National Park is ready and the task force is also considering shifting some of them to another national park in Madhya Pradesh. He told the court that there were no cheetah experts in India, as cheetahs had become extinct in the country in 1947-48. Our officers went to South Africa, Namibia and received special training on cheetah management. ASG Bhati said, if the court is considering the opinion of cheetah experts, it should hear all of them and not one or two who have a particular type of opinion.

7 from Namibia, 12 cheetahs from South Africa were brought to India
After this, the bench asked the expert committee constituted by the apex court to give its suggestion to the National Task Force on Cheetah in 15 days, so that it could be considered and postponed the matter for further hearing after the summer vacation. The apex court’s direction came during the hearing of a petition filed by the Center seeking direction to the court to follow the guidelines of the expert committee appointed by this court vide an order dated January 28, 2020, for the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). And it is no longer necessary and mandatory to continue the advice. Under ‘Project Cheetah’, on September 17, 2022, 8 cheetahs were brought from Namibia to India and left at the Quarantine Facility in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Whereas 12 cheetahs – 7 males and 5 females – were transferred from South Africa to KNP on February 18, 2023.