Madhya Pradesh: Two cheetahs released in wild in Kuno

Bhopal: Two male cheetahs were on Sunday released in the wild in Kuno National Park (KNP) under Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh.

Two cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, were released in the wild in KNP on Sunday afternoon, field director of the park Uttam Sharma told this newspaper.

The cheetahs were released in the Parond forest range, which falls under the Ahera tourism zone of the national park, an official release issued by the chief conservator of forest (tiger project) said.

Tourists can now have a glimpse of the cheetahs, the release added.

Fifteen cheetahs (seven mal, seven female and a cub) were kept in bomas (enclosures) in the national park since August this year for regular vigilance of their health by a team of veterinarians in the wake of death of six cheetahs in March this year due to various reasons.

Earlier, three cheetahs had died.

After the release of the two cheetahs in the wild, 13 surviving cheetahs including a cub have now been left in the enclosures.

Under the cheetah reintroduction project, eight cheetahs- five female and three male, were brought to KNP from Namibia on September 17, 2022.

In February this year, 12 more cheetahs were trans- located to KNP from South Africa under the project.

In March, four cubs were born to Jwala in March this year. Three of them died in May.

“This will be the first winter in KNP for the South African cheetahs and second winter in KNP for the Namibian cheetahs”, Mr Sharma said.