India’s cheetah reintroduction plan faces collapse after the death of its only wild-roaming cat

Experts criticised the project’s lack of planning and implementation, highlighting the need for a better approach to habitat restoration and conservation

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India’s cheetah reintroduction project, a flagship initiative for Prime Minister Modi, faces a potential collapse after the death of its only wild-roaming cheetah. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:00pm, 1 Sep 2024

India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction project is on the verge of collapse after the death of its only wild-roaming big cat, raising doubts about the viability of a programme that has struggled despite intense diplomatic and conservation efforts.

The cheetah, fondly known as Pavan in India and Oban in Africa, was found dead on Tuesday in a suspected drowning, though authorities are still awaiting official confirmation. Independent experts have cast doubts on the true cause of death, because big cats do not usually die from drowning.

Pavan was one of the first cheetahs airlifted from Africa to India in 2022 as part of New Delhi’s initiative to reintroduce the apex predators to select grasslands in central India for conservation purposes.

This marked the world’s first intercontinental translocation of wild cats.

Amid much fanfare, eight adult Namibian cheetahs arrived at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on September 17, 2022, to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

Since then, most have been in some form of captivity, either in soft enclosures or restricted roaming areas, to monitor their health.