Kuno Cheetah Cubs: Survival and Conservation Challenges : 19 Feb, 2024

Why in News:

Seven cheetah cubs were born in Kuno National Park to Namibian cheetahs Jwala and Asha, boosting Project Cheetah’s prospects after previous losses.

Kuno National Park situated in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh hosts a number of cheetahs that have been relocated from Namibia and South Africa.
The launch of Project Cheetah in India on September 17, 2022, marks a significant effort to rejuvenate the cheetah population, which was officially declared extinct within the nation in 1952.

Key Points:

Life Stages: Cheetah cubs face high mortality rates; survival requires careful maternal care, minimal human interaction, and protection from infanticide and stress.
Intervention: Officials monitor pregnancies closely, ensuring mothers are well-nourished and minimizing stress factors, including male presence.
Mother-Cub Protocol: Emphasis on natural rearing by the mother, with human intervention as a last resort. Vaccinations and supplements are crucial for cub development.
Survival Rates: Low survival rates in the wild highlight the challenges of reintroduction efforts, with first-time mothers often losing their entire litter.
Debate: Experts argue over raising cubs in enclosures versus the wild, concerned about genetic robustness and the impact of human intervention on survival skills.