Supreme Court concerned over death of cheetahs at Kuno National Park

Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over death of three cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia to Ku National Park (KNP) of Mhya Presh in less than two months and asked Centre to rise above politics and consider shifting m to Rajasthan.

A bench of justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol told Centre that from reports of experts and articles, it appears that KNP does t seem to be sufficient for such large number of cheetahs and Union government may consider shifting m to or sanctuaries.

"Three deaths (of cheetahs) in less than two months is a matter of serious concern. re are opinions of experts and articles in media. It appears that Ku is t sufficient for so many cheetahs. re is too much concentration of cheetahs at one place. Why don't you look for suitable place in Rajasthan? Merely because Rajasthan is ruled by opposition party does t mean, you will t consider it," bench said. ditional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for Centre said task force is seized of deaths and is investigating all possible aspects including shifting m to or sanctuaries.

On March 27, a female Cheetah named Sasha (from Namibia) died due to kidney ailment, on April 23, Uday (S Africa) died due to cardio-pulmonary failure and on May 9, ar South African female cheetah named Daksha, died following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt.

bench said from reports it seems one cheetah died after suffering injuries during a fight between two males over mating and one died of kidney related ailment.

"We came to kw that cheetah which died due to kidney related ailment was suffering from problem before being brought to India. Question is how was that female cheetah cleared to be brought to India, if feline was suffering from ailment," bench said.

Bhati said autopsies of all deaths were done and task force is investigating issue.

"You are bringing cheetahs from abro, it's a good thing. But y need to be protected. y need to be given suitable habitat, why don't you explore for more suitable habitat than Ku", bench said, ding that it is t casting any aspersions on government but expressing concern over deaths.

Bhati said one cheetah has given birth to four cubs which shows that y are acclimatising well in Ku.

Justice Gavai, who is heing green bench of apex court, said environmental issues concern him very much and it is a subject which is close to his heart.

Bhati said death of cheetahs is t an unusual thing but y are thoroughly investigating and if court wishes, government would like to file an ditional affidavit giving details of deaths.

bench said it t doubting intent of government but re are articles and reports of cheetah experts in newspapers and refore Centre must consider at least one or more habitat for m.

" cheetahs were brought subsequent to orders of this court. It appears Ku is t sufficient for m, refore consider transferring m to or sanctuaries in Mhya Presh or Rajasthan, wherever it suitable," bench said, ding government should consider taking views from cheetah experts.

Justice Gavai told Bhati, "Don't bring party-politics into this issue. Consider all available habitats, whatever is suitable for m. I will be gl if cheetahs are brought to Maharashtra." Bhati said Mukundara National Park is rey and task force is also considering transferring some of m to or national park in Mhya Presh.

"re are cheetah experts in India as cheetahs went extinct from country in 1947-48. Since n our officials have been to South Africa, Namibia and undergone specialized training on Cheetah manment", Bhati said, ding if court is considering hearing views of cheetah experts, n it should hear all of m and t one or two, who have particular kind of opinions.

bench n asked apex court-constituted expert committee to give its suggestion to national task force on cheetah in 15 days, so that it could be considered.

It posted matter for furr hearing after summer vacation.

top court's direction came while hearing an application filed by Centre seeking direction from court that it is longer necessary and mandatory for National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to continue taking guidance and vice of expert committee appointed by this court through an order dated January 28, 2020.

top court h n said that three-member committee comprising former director of wildlife protection M K Ranjit Sinh, chief conservator of forests, wildlife ministration in Uttarakhand Dhananjai Mohan and DIG (Wildlife) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) will guide NTCA in introduction of African cheetahs in India.

On March 28, a day after first death of cheetah at Ku, top court h sought details of experts in Cheetah Task Force such as ir qualification and experience.

Centre, in its application said that according to action plan for cheetah introduction in India, annually 8-14 big cats are required to be brought in from African countries for next five-years at least and an memorandum of understanding in this regard has been signed by government of India with Namibia and South Africa for cooperation in field of cheetah conservation.

Giving details, Centre said that following signing of MOU, "in a historic wild to wild intercontinental translocation of large carnivore, eight cheetahs were transported from Namibia to India on September 17, 2022 and were released into quarantine enclosures in Ku National Park of Mhya Presh".

government said that as per MoU with South Africa, 12 cheetahs -- seven males and five females -- were translocated from South Africa to KNP on February 18, 2023.

It said that this entire exercise of cheetah introduction in India has been carried out under expert guidance and supervision of International cheetah experts, scientists, veterinarians, forest officials and NTCA in consultations with committee appointed by this court vide order dated January 28, 2020.