Centre forms steering committee to review “Cheetah Project” following death of three cubs

New Delhi: Centre has constituted a steering committee to review the “Cheetah Project” comprising national and international experts, following the death of three cubs in a week at Kuno National Park , Madhya Pradesh.

The decision was taken after six cheetahs, which were brought as part of the translocation project, died in the last two months.

As per the Ministry, the 11-member committee will be led by Dr. Rajesh Gopal, secretary-general, Global Tiger Forum and formerly of the India Forest Service and closely associated with Project Tiger.

The Cheetah Project Steering Committee will be in force for two years and will convene at least one meeting every month, besides conducting field visits to the Kuno National Park.

As per the statement, the committee mandates to review, progress, monitor and advice on the Cheetah introduction to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and NTCA .

The committee is also responsible for Opening of the Cheetah habitat for eco-tourism and suggests regulations in this regard.

The task force also provides suggestions on community interface and for their involvement in the project activities.

India’s ambitious cheetah population revival program suffered a setback after three cubs and three adult translocated cheetahs have died in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

Three more cubs that cheetah Jwala gave birth to in the last week of March this year died in a week.

Meanwhile the Forest department officials blamed the sweltering heat for the death of three cubs.

Under the Project Cheetah India has translocated twenty cheetahs to Kuno National Park (KNP) in September 2022 and February 2023 from southern Africa.