The cheetah 'Nabha' found injured a week ago in Kuno National Park has died. A fracture in the leg was confirmed. There are now a total of 26 cheetahs in the park, all healthy and hunting.
Kuno National Park: Another piece of sad news has emerged from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Nabha, an 8-year-old female cheetah (also known as Savannah), brought from Namibia, has died. Nabha was found injured about a week ago. She was seen in Kuno's soft release boma, where she was unable to walk. According to the Kuno Park management, both of Nabha's left legs—one front and one hind—were fractured. Preliminary investigations suggested that these injuries were likely sustained during an attempt to hunt.
Treatment lasted a week, but she could not be saved
Immediately after Nabha was found injured, the park management began her treatment. A team of experts kept her under constant monitoring. But on Saturday, her condition worsened and she died. According to forest department officials, the exact causes of death will be confirmed only after her post-mortem report is released. However, the information that has come to light so far indicates that the injured legs were the cause of her death.
26 cheetahs now remain in Kuno, all healthy
After Nabha's death, a total of 26 cheetahs remain in Kuno National Park. These include 9 adult cheetahs—6 females and 3 males. In addition, there are 17 cubs who were born in India. The good news is that all the remaining cheetahs are healthy and regularly hunting in the forest. The forest department has informed that the cheetahs were recently given an anti-ecto parasite medicine, which is working successfully.
Two male cheetahs are also performing well in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary
Apart from Kuno, two male cheetahs kept in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh are also in good condition. These cheetahs have adapted to the environment and are actively roaming in the forest area. This shows that the efforts made under the Cheetah Project in India are yielding positive results, although challenges still remain.
Coordination with co-hunters
The other cheetahs present in Kuno have now fully integrated with forest life. They have learned to live together with their co-hunters, which is considered an important behavioral success. This strengthens their chances of survival in the forest.
Two females, Veera and Nirva, healthy with their cubs
Two female cheetahs, Veera and Nirva, are safe and healthy with their cubs in Kuno Park. These cubs were born in the Indian environment and are now becoming familiar with wildlife practices. According to the forest department, their health is completely satisfactory and they are being monitored regularly.
Challenges of the project
There have been many challenges regarding the ambitious project to establish African cheetahs in India. Several cheetahs have died in Kuno Park since 2022, most of whom died due to infection, conflict, or injury. Wildlife experts believe that the cheetah is a sensitive species, and establishing it in a new place is a big risk.
However, the government and the forest department are making continuous efforts in this direction. Park staff have been trained, modern monitoring systems have been established, and the help of international experts is being taken.
