Delhi: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has addressed the recent deaths of cheetahs brought to India from Namibia and South Africa as part of Project Cheetah, stating that the deaths were due to natural causes. The ministry refuted claims that radio collars, used for wildlife conservation, were responsible for the cheetah fatalities and urged against spreading speculations without scientific evidence. In an effort to protect and conserve cheetahs, the ministry also announced plans to establish a cheetah research center.
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Out of the 20 cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa, five have passed away, all due to natural causes. The ministry emphasized that radio collars were not the cause of the deaths, contrary to certain media reports. It further stated that consultations with international cheetah experts and veterinarians in Namibia and South Africa were underway to investigate the precise reasons behind the cheetah fatalities.
The Center for Project Cheetah Management has appointed a committee to monitor the cheetahs’ well-being regularly. As the project is still in its early stages, it is premature to draw conclusions about its success. Recent doubts raised by international cheetah experts regarding the potential role of radio collars in causing infection-related deaths have prompted the project’s director, Rajesh Gopal, to express his intentions to bring this matter to the attention of radio collar manufacturers. Gopal emphasized the need to await the report’s findings before making definitive conclusions regarding the cheetah deaths.
The establishment of a cheetah research center highlights the government’s commitment to the conservation and protection of cheetahs in India. The ministry aims to gather crucial scientific data and expertise to aid in the successful implementation of Project Cheetah.
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