2 male cheetahs now in bigger enclosure in MP's Kuno National Park

The two cheetahs were released in the enclosure as they adapted to the habitat very well, an official said. The decision was taken by the Cheetah Task Force (CCF) after making all preparations at the enclosure.

Updated on: Nov 6, 2022, 05:00:44 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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Elton and Freddie, the two cheetahs who spent 50 days in quarantine after being translocated from Namibia, were released in a six km sq-enclosure at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur on Saturday, a forest department official said.

Eight cheetahs from Namibia were translocated to Kuno National Park on September 17. (ANI)

The two cheetahs were released in the enclosure as they adapted to the habitat very well, an official said, requesting anonymity. The decision was taken by the Cheetah Task Force (CCF) after making all preparations at the enclosure.

“The other six will be released before November 10 according to recommendations of the experts that include CCF officials, WII scientists and MP forest department field experts,” the official said.

Following reports of Asha, a female cheetah that was also translocated, might be pregnant, an official from CCF said officials will wait till November 10 to take a decision on releasing her in the wild.

“Asha is in quarantine for the past 100 days so if she was pregnant, she should have given birth to cubs. But for more surety, the officials will wait till November 10,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

Eight cheetahs from Namibia were translocated to Kuno National Park on September 17.

They were in a quarantine enclosure for over a month.

A Cheetah Task Force was formed by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the management of cheetahs.

Now, the animals will be under the vigilance of four watch towers of high-resolution cameras. A special dog squad trained by ITBP in Punjab will also be deployed with the cheetah security force to prevent poaching, the official said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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