A day of celebration for India's ambitious cheetah reintroduction project turned into a scene of tragedy in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park. A 10-month-old cheetah cub, released just a day earlier in a historic event, was found dead on Friday afternoon, casting a shadow over the conservation milestone.
A Historic Release Turns Sour
The cub's release on December 4 had been a moment of great hope. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav presided over the event on International Cheetah Day, setting the young cheetah, its sibling, and their mother named Veera free in the Parond range of the park. Veera, translocated from South Africa in early 2024, had given birth to the two cubs in February 2025. Their release was a significant step, aimed at boosting the population of free-ranging cheetahs in Kuno.
The Night of Separation and Loss
Officials revealed that the cub appears to have been separated from its mother Veera and its sibling during the night following the release. The first sign of trouble emerged when the tracking team lost the signal from the cub's radio collar on Thursday night after dark. A field official stated, "We lost the signal after dark. When telemetry picked up movement again Friday, the animal was already dead." The carcass was subsequently recovered without any visible external injuries.
Shubranjan Sen, the state's chief wildlife warden, informed that the precise cause of death will only be determined after a post-mortem examination. He added that Veera and her surviving cub are together and are reported to be doing well.
Round-the-Clock Vigil Continues
In the wake of the incident, park authorities have reinforced their monitoring efforts. A dedicated team comprising wildlife veterinarians, radio-tracking specialists, and field staff is maintaining 24/7 surveillance on the released animals. This tragic event underscores the immense challenges and risks inherent in wildlife reintroduction programs, even as the commitment to the project's long-term goals remains firm.
