[dailydriver]

After the death of two imported Cheetahs, park officials are seeking to shift the remaining ones elsewhere. Apparently, they are short staffed and are faced with severe logistical problems.

MP Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) JS Chauhan told PTI that his department has written a letter to the National Tiger Conservation (NTCA) requesting for an alternate place for the cheetahs.

Source: CNBCTV18

[deathwalkr]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

After the death of two imported Cheetahs, park officials are seeking to shift the remaining ones elsewhere. Apparently, they are short staffed and are faced with severe logistical problems.

Short staffed? Did they not think of that before they got in the cats? Would it not be easier to increase staff rather than catch the cats and relocate them somewhere else?

[lapis_lazuli]

How would relocating, help with the cheetah's well being? Are they not getting enough food? Water Harsh climate? What exactly would change by relocating?

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by deathwalkr

Short staffed? Did they not think of that before they got in the cats? Would it not be easier to increase staff rather than catch the cats and relocate them somewhere else?

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

How would relocating, help with the cheetah's well being? Are they not getting enough food? Water Harsh climate? What exactly would change by relocating?

The only thing that the proposed relocation would achieve is reduce the huge burden that is currently being borne by the forest officials.

While the government and media were busy proclaiming that the cheetahs were heralding a new era, the officials on ground were perhaps already feeling the weight of expectations that this novelty brought with it. Notwithstanding the problems in situ, if the cheetah death count increases (God forbid), everyone will start blaming them for failing to discharge their duties. Can there be a better bakra than an out of favour babu on whom the flag of failure could be planted?

Hence, I believe that this demand is, more than anything, the activation of an advance defence mechanism that could be relied upon on in case of future need.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

After the death of two imported Cheetahs, park officials are seeking to shift the remaining ones elsewhere. Apparently, they are short staffed and are faced with severe logistical problems.

Unfortunately, Mr. JS Chauhan's words have been twisted out of context. Please watch below video from 3:00 onwards. The interviewer has specifically asked about capacity constraints at Kuno wrt "growing population" (four new borns and additional imports from South Africa). In this context, the officer had replied that the Kuno NP has capacity for about 20-25 cheetahs; and he is asking the GoI to find another suitable place to house additional Cheetahs!!!

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...2.cms?from=mdr

[lapis_lazuli]

One more female has died. Too sad....

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india...632399158.html

[fhdowntheline]

Looks like this is becoming another vanity project. What was the need for all this hullabaloo? Whatever be the specific causes of the death, how can the species who is used to the Nambian/ South African climate, vegetation prey ,sights, sounds, smells , cope with a somewhat alien environment? Whenever we humans do such experiments, I always feel we are messing around with way too much power and authority and way too less knowledge and humility.

PS: I had earlier commented on this thread that let this be looked at as an interesting scientific experiment. Clearly, my own beliefs were inadequate.

[ads11]

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

Looks like this is becoming another vanity project. What was the need for all this hullabaloo? Whatever be the specific causes of the death, how can the species who is used to the Nambian/ South African climate, vegetation prey ,sights, sounds, smells , cope with a somewhat alien environment? Whenever we humans do such experiments, I always feel we are messing around with way too much power and authority and way too less knowledge and humility.

PS: I had earlier commented on this thread that let this be looked at as an interesting scientific experiment. Clearly, my own beliefs were inadequate.

I don't think this initiative is misguided. There's plenty of species rehabilitation projects happening globally in efforts to combat biodiversity loss (where related members of the same species or sometimes genus are translocated elsewhere to revive endemic populations). In the face of the latter I would much rather attempts to combat that, rather than just bemoaning it from the sidelines.

What I will say probably isn't helping is the intense media glare on this particular project. Any news will get amplified and I feel like any wildlife initiatives take time by their nature. We'd have to look at it from a minimum 5 year time span, let alone a decadal one to truly judge the impacts of this project (just look at how long it took for tiger numbers to recover).

If it all goes to shit long before that, then sure, have the inquest, but I feel like the best thing for the project is to perhaps get some breathing room, get some separation from the media glare (though granted, media glare keeps vital initiatives like this in the public consciousness and that's worth it's weight in gold considering the disinterested attitudes at large towards the environment from the wider populace - not a dig, just that it's not high on the priority list for mindshare for the vast majority).

In the long run I do think, in my non expert knowledge, that it makes sense to have another location to host the cheetahs, just in the interests of the robustness of the domestic population we are trying to cultivate.

[RaghuVis]

I hope all are reading the article properly. The female cheetah "Daksha" died due to injury after being involved in a fight. These are very common and nature's way of life.

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

What was the need for all this hullabaloo?

Originally Posted by ads11

What I will say probably isn't helping is the intense media glare on this particular project. A

Well, unlike humans, cheetahs are not affected by the media glare. They don't follow the media and the circus, right?

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

Whatever be the specific causes of the death, how can the species who is used to the Nambian/ South African climate, vegetation prey ,sights, sounds, smells , cope with a somewhat alien environment?

Are you asking a question or are you suggesting it is not possible? If the former, then I suggest you follow this study for the next few years and you should get the answer. if the latter, then please provide some source of information.

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

Whenever we humans do such experiments, I always feel we are messing around with way too much power and authority and way too less knowledge and humility.

How do you think we humans reached the top of the food chain and still be there for thousands of years? I hope this little research is not what it takes for you to realize how cruel we are!

[fhdowntheline]

To he sure, we are not repopulating the Asian cheetah. We are trying to make a non native " cousin" species adapt. Perhaps time will tell, but then why not look at conservation and repopulation of the Indian striped hyena, or the wolf? Is it because they are less glamourous in popular public perception? I am sure there are plenty of native animal species that actually need to be conserved to keep our local ecology intact.

[dailydriver]

L'Affaire Acinonyx Jubatus is one instance where I have been skeptical and dismissive of the drama from the word go and yet would love to be proved wrong.

The latest death appears to be a romantic overture gone wrong and hence human negligence and/or failure to plan cannot be called into account. It is a tough world, specially the wild. The fittest survive; but so do the flexible and the adaptable. Hope our guests too will.

[Ananthang]

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

To he sure, we are not repopulating the Asian cheetah. We are trying to make a non native " cousin" species adapt. Perhaps time will tell, but then why not look at conservation and repopulation of the Indian striped hyena, or the wolf? Is it because they are less glamourous in popular public perception? I am sure there are plenty of native animal species that actually need to be conserved to keep our local ecology intact.

I think so. If we get some Cheetah then we can say 1 country with all 4 big cats in nature.

[ads11]

Originally Posted by RaghuVis

Well, unlike humans, cheetahs are not affected by the media glare. They don't follow the media and the circus, right?

By media circus I didn't mean the animals, I more meant the increased scrutiny on the forestry dept officials and the other staff involved in the project. If the media spotlight drives those in the leadership chain to fumble on decisions then I think we can all agree that everyone loses out here.

Originally Posted by fhdowntheline

To he sure, we are not repopulating the Asian cheetah. We are trying to make a non native " cousin" species adapt. Perhaps time will tell, but then why not look at conservation and repopulation of the Indian striped hyena, or the wolf? Is it because they are less glamourous in popular public perception? I am sure there are plenty of native animal species that actually need to be conserved to keep our local ecology intact.

There's definitely an element of X factor attached to conservation efforts particularly if they're predators or larger more distinguishable species. It's sad but true, tiger conservation efforts will garner far more mindshare than say conservation of a particular kind of bird for eg. In an ideal world, absolutely, we should be looking to conserve all the species at risk. I'll give you an eg, till you just mentioned it, I hadn't even realised India hosted a hyena species! So thank you!

Coming back to the cheetah, it's obvious that the co-opting of this initiative with a wider celebration of India since independence shows that the successful reintroduction of the species in the country would fit a visual metaphor the govt wants to convey of India having arrived of its own accord to former glories - so it's clear that the motivation here isn't entirely the conservation aspect. But to circle back to what I was trying to say earlier, if you're a wildlife conservationist, if getting in bed with the political party of the day is a means to an end, then pragmatism prevails.

Here's hoping this project pans out well in due course. Would be a feather in the cap for those concerned and I hope, would get more of the public onside in terms of demanding similar initiatives to restore and rebuild India's biodiversity.

[DetectiveMiles]

Cheeta cub dies in Kuno National Park.
Of the 20 cheetahs brought to India from Africa in the world’s first intercontinental translocation project, 17 now remain.

In what forest officials say should be viewed from the “perspective of survival of the fittest”, a cheetah cub died at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.

"Prima facie the cause of death of the cub appears to be due to weakness,” the statement read. Forest officials stated that from the beginning, this “cub has been the smallest among the four cubs, less active and lethargic”.
“Generally, a weak cheetah cub is able to drink less milk than other cubs, due to which the expectation of its survival decreases and ultimately such cubs do not survive for a long time. This whole process should be seen in the perspective of survival of the fittest,” the statement read.

https://indianexpress.com/article/in...akest-8625167/

[lapis_lazuli]

More have died.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/stor...098-2023-07-11

How many are left? What a tragedy!