Eighth cheetah dies at Kuno National Park in MP, Union Minister rejects relocation

Following the death of the eighth cheetah at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, Union Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that the cheetahs would not be relocated.

The government is in contact with experts, including international ones, and will review the situation. Opposition parties have criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, blaming them for mismanagement.

The recent death raises concerns about the treatment and welfare of the African big cats brought to the park for what critics consider a show of political power.

With the recent loss, the park now has 16 cheetahs, including a cub. The cause of the latest cheetah's death, a male named Suraj, will be determined after a postmortem examination. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest stated that although deaths can occur in such projects, efforts are being made to prevent further fatalities.

In May, the Supreme Court expressed concerns over cheetah deaths and urged the government to consider expanding their habitat in other states without involving politics.

A report highlighted that Rajasthan's forest department had requested to host some cheetahs, but the proposal was rejected by the Centre.

The cheetahs were brought from Namibia and South Africa in September 2022 and February 2023, respectively.