SC Expresses Concerns Over Cheetah Deaths At Kuno National Park

The Supreme Court recently voiced deep concern about the deaths of 3 cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia to the Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh.

The Bench led by Justice B.R. Gavai observed that the deaths occurred within 2 months of their transfer to the KNP. It urged the Centre to “rise above politics” and consider shifting the cheetahs to Rajasthan.

The Bench said that “Don’t bring party politics into this issue. Consider all the available habitats, whatever is suitable for them. Three deaths [of cheetahs] in less than 2 months is a matter of serious concern. There are opinions of experts and articles in the media. It appears that Kuno is not sufficient for so many cheetahs. There is too much concentration of cheetahs at one place. Why don’t you look for a suitable place in Rajasthan? Merely because Rajasthan is ruled by an opposition party does not mean, you will not consider it.”

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Centre, stated that the task force was seized of the deaths.

The experts in the force investigated all possible aspects, including shifting them to other sanctuaries.

On March 27, a female cheetah named Sasha (from Namibia) died due to kidney ailment, on April 23, Uday (South Africa) died due to cardio-pulmonary failure and on May 9, another South African female cheetah named Daksha died following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt.

The Bench said that “We came to know that the cheetah which died due to kidney-related ailment was suffering from the problem before being brought to India. The question is how was that female cheetah cleared to be brought to India if the feline was suffering from the ailment.”

Further, Ms. Bhati said post-mortem of all the deaths were done and a task force was investigating the issue.

The court asked, “You are bringing the cheetahs from abroad, it’s a good thing. But they need to be protected. They need to be given suitable habitat. Why don’t you explore for a more suitable habitat than Kuno?”

Ms. Bhati said a cheetah gave birth to 4 cubs which showed that they were rapidly acclimatizing in Kuno.