Kuno, Madhya Pradesh: Nabha, an eight-year-old cheetah translocated from Namibia as part of India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction programme, succumbed to injuries on Saturday after a week-long battle for survival, officials confirmed.
“Nabha was badly injured, likely during a hunting attempt inside her soft release enclosure. She had sustained fractures in her left ulna and fibula along with other injuries,” said Uttam Sharma, Field Director of the Cheetah Project.
Nabha had been under veterinary care for the past week. A post-mortem examination will provide more details regarding her exact cause of death.
Cheetah Population Update
With Nabha’s passing, Kuno National Park now has 26 cheetahs, including:
- 9 adults (6 females and 3 males)
- 17 Indian-born cubs
An additional two adult male cheetahs remain in Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary and are reported to be in good health.
Out of the 26 in Kuno, 16 cheetahs are currently in the wild, showing encouraging signs of adaptation. “They have successfully learned to coexist with co-predators and are regularly hunting,” Sharma noted.
Progress and Challenges in India’s Cheetah Reintroduction Project
Launched in September 2022, the cheetah reintroduction effort marked the return of the species to India after it was declared extinct in 1952. A total of 20 cheetahs—8 from Namibia and 12 from South Africa—were introduced in phases.
The programme has seen a mix of successes and setbacks:
- In May 2023, three cubs born to Namibian cheetah Jwala died due to heatstroke.
- To counter extreme heat, a solar-powered water lift system was installed in June 2024 to better support the cubs and nursing mothers.
Currently, two mothers, Veera and Nirva, along with their recently born cubs, are reported to be healthy.