BHOPAL: Cheetahs Agni and Vaayu will be in their elements in the wild of Kuno National Park on Dec 4, International Cheetah Day. If all goes well, the other cheetahs will also be released from enclosures in a phased manner.
Tourists can then have the unique opportunity of seeing these majestic animals in their natural habitat, said officials. Twenty-four cheetahs, half of them cubs, have spent well over a year in enclosures for protection after a string of deaths, some attributed to difficulty in adapting to Indian conditions, and a few unexplained. Wanderer Pawan was the lone cheetah in the wild but was found dead under mysterious conditions in August this year. Its death came as a major blow and cast a cloud on the wilding of the 24 remaining cheetahs.
Steering committee to review preps before wilding of cheetahs But Cheetah Day 2024 is expected to bring spots of cheer. A steering committee, led by chairman Rajesh Gopal, is scheduled to visit Kuno on Dec 3 to review the final preparations for the cheetahs' release. The panel will ensure that all logistical, safety, and security measures are in place for the smooth transition from protected bomas into the wild.
Agni and Vaayu are among the fastest and toughest of the lot, which is why they have been picked as pathfinders. They will be closely monitored in the wild to ensure they adjust well to their new environment.
Unlike previous cheetah releases, where visitors were only able to catch distant glimpses of the fast felines, the open forest may allow for closer encounters, although still in a controlled environment for their safety. Lucky ones may even get to see cheetahs take down prey.
The wilding will mark a milestone in the cheetah reintroduction project, crucial to reviving the wild cheetah population after nearly 70 years.
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