African Cheetahs get health checkups as MP’s Kuno National Park awaits their arrival

Cheetahs will be housed in a specially constructed 500-hectare enclosure for two to three months, once they acclimatise to the environment, they will be released outside the enclosure in the open

An African Cheetah going through 1st health exam by an international team of experts at Cheetah Conservation Fund before settling in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in presence of Indian High Commissioner in Namibia Prashant Agrawal, in Windhoek on Monday. ANI photo

Windhoek [Namibia], August 15

Cheetahs from Namibia will soon be settled in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh and in the run-up to this these beautiful creatures have received a thorough wellness exam by an international team of experts from Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) a research institution in Namibia dedicated to saving the cheetahs in the wild.

Indian Embassy in Windhoek thanked Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism for organizing the medical check-up to make sure that the Cheetahs are in excellent health.

The Cheetahs underwent a health checkup by the expert team which was led by renowned specialist Dr Laurie Marker. Indian High Commissioner in Namibia Prashant Agrawal was also present while the Cheetahs, widely known as the planet’s fastest animal, prepared to make a comeback in India.

In a Tweet, the High Commission of India in Windhoek wrote, “Independence Day exclusive: Cheetahs, potential candidates for transfer to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh in due course, undergo a thorough first health exam by an international team of experts from Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) led by renowned specialist Dr. Laurie Marker. High Commissioner Prashant Agrawal was present. We thank the Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MEFT).”

This comes amid preparations in Kuno National Park to ensure the survival of African cheetahs.

These cheetahs will be housed in a specially constructed 500-hectare enclosure for two to three months, once they acclimatise to the environment, they will be released outside the enclosure in the open.

Other small animals are also being introduced here in sufficient numbers so that the cheetahs can hunt for food.

There are currently 150 to 200 sambar, which also includes chital, peacocks, and wild boars. The 500-hectare area has been fenced off with 8 feet-high fencing. The entire enclosure has a total of 8 doors, 4 of which are the primary entrances. Additionally, cameras have been set up for their protection and maintenance.

Five leopards were present while the unique enclosure for African cheetahs was being built as leopards are dangerous to cheetahs, the departmental efforts are relocating them. Three leopards are still present in this particular cage.

Cages with food have also been erected inside the enclosure to make it easier to trap these leopards. Teams of specialists and medical personnel have also travelled from WII and Madhav National Park to capture the leopards that are inside the enclosure and are working day and night with the local workers.

Bears, hyenas and other animals have already been pulled out but it has become a headache for the three leopards present here.

Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Kuno Wildlife Circle, Prakash Kumar Verma stated that the cheetah was formally declared extinct in 1952 after becoming extinct in India in 1948.

“Only Kuno has been chosen for the first phase of the plan to introduce cheetahs to India, and the entire forest department is thrilled about this. To settle the cheetahs here, all last stage preparations are currently being made,” Verma said.

There were five leopards inside the fence when it was being built, and we have now successfully removed two of them. Teams from WII and Madhav National Park, who have also travelled from Delhi, are collaborating with our doctors and staff members to try to eliminate the last three leopards. They will also be discarded soon,” he said. ANI