Namibia worried over cheetah deaths in India
Three cubs die in heat wave
The programme that seeks to reintroduce cheetahs to India has suffered yet another setback.
The environment ministry has expressed concern over the reported mortality rate among cheetahs in India. This after three cubs born to a Namibian cheetah - which was translocated to that country last year - died during a heat wave last week.This is yet another setback to a programme that seeks to reintroduce the species to India 70 years after the animals went extinct there.
The latest deaths brought the total number of cheetahs that have died since they were reintroduced into India last September to six.
The cubs were part of a litter of four born in late March to a cheetah named Siyaya, who was one of eight rehabilitated cats relocated from Namibia to India’s Kuno National Park.
According to a statement issued by Jasbir Singh Chauhan, India’s chief conservator of the forest department, the fourth cub was taken to a local hospital for monitoring.
"Its condition was also not good, but after treatment, the cub is looking much better although it is underweight and weak. Both the mother and her remaining cub continue to remain under observation," he said.
The deaths reportedly occurred during some of the hottest days of the season, with temperatures hitting up to 47 degrees Celsius.
Namibian environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said they have noted the concerns raised regarding the cheetahs in India. "We have not received formal communication from the Indian government regarding the mortalities. As you may know, the intention of giving cheetahs to India was a good gesture to repopulate the cheetahs there; however, we have noted the mortalities, and it is concerning."
The Indian government is doing its best to keep the cheetahs safe, he said, adding that they are confident they will find a solution to the problem.