12 cheetahs released in acclimatisation enclosure at Kuno National Park after two-month quarantine

Twelve cheetahs brought from South Africa to India in February this year have been released in the acclimatisation enclosure of the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district

Twelve cheetahs brought from South Africa to India in February this year have been released in the acclimatisation enclosure of the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, an official said on April 20. 

The felines, comprising seven males and five females, were released in the quarantine bomas (enclosure) of the KNP on February 18 — the day they were brought here from South Africa. 

“The twelve cheetahs have been released in the acclimatisation enclosure, aka soft or pre-release enclosure, after a go-ahead from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying [DAHD],” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests J.S. Chauhan told PTI over phone. 

He said the M.P. forest department got the clearance from the DAHD three days ago. 

Also Read: Two cheetahs released into wild at M.P.’s Kuno National Park

“We started releasing them and completed the process in the last three days,” Mr. Chauhan added. 

After one month, a call would be taken on releasing them into the wild, he said adding that cursorial predators would be set free in a phased manner, like two or three in the first batch after studying their behaviour.