BHOPAL: India’s hopes of reviving the cheetah population in the country were severely thwarted when the majestic Sasha leopard was found dead in her room at Kuno National Park in Monday. The news of her sudden passing has left wildlife enthusiasts shocked and saddened.
Madhya Pradesh division sent an emergency medical response team to Kuno in Sheopur district when Sasha was diagnosed with a serious illness in January. Preliminary assessments of the leopard showed symptoms of dehydration and kidney disease, according to sources.
In an effort to save Sasha’s life, a team of veterinarians led by Dr Atul Gupta, the top veterinarian of Van Vihar National Park, was sent to Kuno from Bhopal, more than 350 kilometers away. Specialists managed to give fluids, which led to an improvement in Sasha’s condition.
Sasha, along with seven other cheetahs, was airlifted to Kuno on September 17 and is adjusting well to her new home in India, under the close supervision of the Wildlife Institute India (WII) and Madhya Pradesh Forest Service staff. However, as experts suggest, chronic kidney disease is a common disease among cheetahs.
All eight cheetahs have been in the hunting grounds at Kuno National Park since last November. Sasha’s tragic loss is not only a setback for the project but also a huge loss to the country’s biodiversity. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine Sasha’s cause of death.
“It’s normal. She was sick and despite all the efforts and help of international doctors, including those from Namibia, she couldn’t be saved. She was weak from day one. first,” said a senior official in the MoEF.
In a profound development, Kuno has now become the new home for a total of 19 cheetahs, including 12 South African jaguars released in February this year as part of the Prime Minister’s grand vision. Government, Project Cheetah. While Sasha’s death was a significant step back for the project, the park still stands as the proud home of 19 other majestic jaguars, with another 7 having been brought back from Namibia and was released by the Honorable Prime Minister last September. Of the total number of jaguars, four have ventured into the wilderness and are striding across the large area of the park.
Sasha is a 5.5 year old female Namibian leopard.
Sasha was found by several farm workers on a farm near Gobabis, a town in east-central Namibia, in late 2017. She was thin and malnourished. The workers took care of her health again. In January 2018, CCF staff learned about Sasha and moved her to CCF Center lands, which include a large, integrated model farm and wildlife sanctuary.
Since another female leopard, Savannah, arrived at the CCF Center in 2019, Sasha and she have become friends with Sasha, and the two are often found together in their cages. Sasha and Savannah are living together in the great hunting grounds of Kuno National Park awaiting release.
Madhya Pradesh division sent an emergency medical response team to Kuno in Sheopur district when Sasha was diagnosed with a serious illness in January. Preliminary assessments of the leopard showed symptoms of dehydration and kidney disease, according to sources.
In an effort to save Sasha’s life, a team of veterinarians led by Dr Atul Gupta, the top veterinarian of Van Vihar National Park, was sent to Kuno from Bhopal, more than 350 kilometers away. Specialists managed to give fluids, which led to an improvement in Sasha’s condition.
Sasha, along with seven other cheetahs, was airlifted to Kuno on September 17 and is adjusting well to her new home in India, under the close supervision of the Wildlife Institute India (WII) and Madhya Pradesh Forest Service staff. However, as experts suggest, chronic kidney disease is a common disease among cheetahs.
All eight cheetahs have been in the hunting grounds at Kuno National Park since last November. Sasha’s tragic loss is not only a setback for the project but also a huge loss to the country’s biodiversity. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine Sasha’s cause of death.
“It’s normal. She was sick and despite all the efforts and help of international doctors, including those from Namibia, she couldn’t be saved. She was weak from day one. first,” said a senior official in the MoEF.
In a profound development, Kuno has now become the new home for a total of 19 cheetahs, including 12 South African jaguars released in February this year as part of the Prime Minister’s grand vision. Government, Project Cheetah. While Sasha’s death was a significant step back for the project, the park still stands as the proud home of 19 other majestic jaguars, with another 7 having been brought back from Namibia and was released by the Honorable Prime Minister last September. Of the total number of jaguars, four have ventured into the wilderness and are striding across the large area of the park.
Sasha is a 5.5 year old female Namibian leopard.
Sasha was found by several farm workers on a farm near Gobabis, a town in east-central Namibia, in late 2017. She was thin and malnourished. The workers took care of her health again. In January 2018, CCF staff learned about Sasha and moved her to CCF Center lands, which include a large, integrated model farm and wildlife sanctuary.
Since another female leopard, Savannah, arrived at the CCF Center in 2019, Sasha and she have become friends with Sasha, and the two are often found together in their cages. Sasha and Savannah are living together in the great hunting grounds of Kuno National Park awaiting release.
