The Supreme Court voiced its grave concern over the alarming number of cheetah deaths that occurred after their translocation from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park (KNP) in less than a year.
The court urged the Centre to explore alternative options and not make the issue a matter of prestige.
In response to the feline deaths, a bench of Justices BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Prashant Kumar Mishra requested the Centre submit a comprehensive affidavit explaining the reasons behind the fatalities and the remedial measures taken.
Court’s Questioning and Centre’s Response
The court questioned the Centre about the cause of the cheetah deaths and suggested transferring the animals to different sanctuaries.
The Additional Solicitor General, Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, assured that they were planning to file an affidavit detailing each cheetah’s death.
She also mentioned that authorities were exploring the possibility of relocating the cheetahs to other sanctuaries.
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Cheetahs: A Prestigious Project for India
While the government considered the reintroduction of cheetahs a prestigious project, the court expressed concern over the significant number of cheetah deaths, stating that it presented an unfavorable image for the country.
Senior advocate PC Sen presented expert suggestions to prevent further cheetah deaths at Kuno National Park. The court requested these suggestions to be shared with the Centre for further consideration:
Eight cheetah deaths within a year of the translocation of the big cats from Africa do not reflect a good picture of #ProjectCheetah, the Supreme Court said on Thursday.https://t.co/fzYkJ7ZdHK#KunoNationalPark #SupremeCourtOfIndia #Cheetah pic.twitter.com/2DWyuhhOD6
— The Rising Panjab (@therisingpanjab) July 20, 2023
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Recent Cheetah Deaths in Kuno National Park
Recently, eight cheetahs, including three cubs born to Namibian cheetah ‘Jwala,’ died at Kuno National Park since March this year, bringing the total number of cheetah deaths at the park to eight.
The court expressed serious concern over these fatalities and advised the Centre to consider relocating the cheetahs to Rajasthan.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had advised the Centre to consider shifting the cheetahs to other sanctuaries, expressing doubts about Kuno National Park’s capacity to accommodate such a large number of cheetahs.
The top court is currently handling an application filed by the Centre seeking direction to discontinue guidance and advice from the expert committee appointed by the apex court through an order dated January 28, 2020.
The committee was tasked with guiding the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in the introduction of African cheetahs in India.
The government has been actively working with African countries, arranging exchange visits, study tours, capacity building, and training programs for forest officials and veterinarians involved in the implementation of Project Cheetah in India.
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Conclusion
The Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of cheetah deaths at Kuno National Park and urged the Centre to take swift action to address the issue:
Supreme Court expresses concern on issue related to death of #cheetahshttps://t.co/X20VCFa3EL pic.twitter.com/UJB2evQHGX
— Rising Kashmir (@RisingKashmir) July 20, 2023
While the government considers Project Cheetah a prestigious initiative, the court has stressed the importance of safeguarding the lives of these endangered species.
The court’s plea for alternative solutions and expert recommendations aims to protect the cheetah population and ensure their successful reintroduction in India. Stay tuned to Digi Hind News for more.