Kuno: India’s first cheetah couple released into the wild of Kuno National Park | India News

BHOPAL: Two Namibian leopards, Oban and Aasha, was successfully released in the wild world of Kuno National Park, Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. The original plan was to release two male jaguar brothers – Elton and Freddie, also known as The Rock starbut officials were unable to capture Elton in the larger bomba hunt they have been involved in since last November.
The task force was established by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to track Cheetah birth in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh and other suitable designated areas then decided to release ‘Oban and Aasha’ in initial phase First, because they’re mating. Their movements will be monitored 24 hours a day by local authorities. State Forestry Department staff, supported by the cheetah newspaper research team. Officials say if any animal has a tendency to enter an unwanted environment, it will be brought back.

Aasha is a wild female cheetah caught in a cage trap on a farm near the Cheetah Conservation Foundation (CCF) Center in Otjiwarongo, Namibia in July 2022. She was released onto CCF property, but was recaptured. caught on the same neighboring farm two months later. On Saturday, September 17, Prime Minister Modi of India was presented with the gift of naming this Namibian leopard in honor of his birthday. Prime Minister Modi chose the Indian name, Aasha, which means “hope.” Cheetah Asha was also believed to be pregnant when she was transported from Namibia to Kuno, but lost her embryo, presumably due to stress, according to the Cheetah Conservation Foundation (CCF). Initial medical examinations shortly after her capture in the wild showed signs of an embryo although her condition remained unclear even after being brought to Kuno in the absence of testing facilities and procedures. They claim that she had stress abortions that often happen to cheetahs during early pregnancy.
Oban is a male cheetah born at Erindi Private Game Reserve in March 2018. His mother was also born at Erinidi Reserve and his mother is a leopard that CCF has released into the wild. at Erindi a few years ago. Oban is considered a second generation, born in the wild with a rehabilitated female, proof of breeding success in Namibia.
What will the ticket prices of cheetahs be after being released into the park? Cheetahs are very adaptable. In parts of Africa where cheetahs are found, temperatures can vary between very, very hot during the day, too cold at night, and cheetahs can adapt to seasonal changes. Oban and Aasha also face harsh and wet rainy seasons in Africa, like in India. Until about 75 years ago, the species lived in India, so Oban and Aasha should be able to survive most climates in Kuno National Park, officials say.
For hunting, cheetahs do well in open grassland and savanna environments as well as in areas with moderate woody vegetation. They benefit from tall grassy areas or areas that keep them undetected when stalking their prey. Habitat at the release site in India is an important consideration and the species experts working on the project believe that Oban and Sasha will thrive in the Indian landscape.
More leopards will be released depending on how comfortable Oban and Asha are in the new environment. They will be monitored and tracked through radio telemetry. Once all leopards have stabilized and established ranges/territory, the frequency of tracking can be reduced to two to three sites per day and one visual observation, an official said. well on different days to verify health, condition, and any signs of injury. .
The Cheetah Action Plan has recommended that GPS collared males (more than one known as an alliance) be released from the cage first after an appropriate period of one to two months. We are expected to establish a union territory after exploring and investigating available habitat, and will be inclined to return to the enclosure to meet the females. Officials believe that the presence of females in the main barn will ensure that the males don’t wander too far, once their exploratory instincts are satisfied. Telemetry location data from telemetry will be set for 10-12 GPS locations per day communicated daily via satellite/GSM communication. Officials announced that the Kuno National Park management board will be responsible for overseeing the activities necessary for protection and management, while a leopard research team will oversee the research.
The plan also recommends that the cheetah population in Kuno be closely monitored and managed for at least 10 years with all adult cheetahs fitted with GPS/satellite collars. The study of all aspects of recovery and system interactions including the ecology, physiology and behavior of cheetahs and their population trends, as well as their prey species , will be addressed by the cheetah research group in collaboration with the NTCA.