India should go for younger cheetahs habituated to human presence: Experts tell govt

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park. In a status report submitted to the government recently, the experts said these attributes enable easier monitoring of health-related issues, simplify stress-free veterinary and management intervention, and enhance tourism value. Kuno, where two batches of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa have been introduced, is set to open for tourism and these qualities in cheetahs can enhance the park's appeal to visitors, they said.

They emphasised that young adult cheetahs are more adaptable to their new environments and have higher survival rates compared to older cheetahs. Younger males display «lower aggression» towards other cheetahs, reducing the risk of intraspecific competition mortality, commonly known as cheetah infighting. Considering the costs associated with relocating cheetahs to India, the experts highlighted that younger cheetahs have a longer life expectancy post-release, offering higher conservation value and breeding potential.

They emphasised that although the cheetah mortalities recorded at the Kuno National Park are unfortunate and have attracted negative media attention, they are within the normal parameters for wild cheetah reintroduction. Six of the 20 adult cheetahs relocated to Kuno from Africa have died since March this year — the latest being on Wednesday. The experts drew the government's attention to the initial difficulties faced during cheetah reintroduction attempts in South Africa, where nine out of 10 attempts failed.

These experiences led to the establishment of best practices for wild cheetah reintroduction and management. They said the first litters with realistic prospects of survival to adulthood are likely to be born in 2024. However, cheetah cub