The Madhya Pradesh forest department has declined to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the management of cheetahs imported from Africa and their cubs born in India.
This refusal was in response to wildlife activist Ajay Dubey's request, citing Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, which permits withholding information that could jeopardize national sovereignty, security, or foreign relations.
Dubey had sought records related to the management of the Cheetah Project in Kuno and Mandsaur. Saurav Kumar Kabra, Public Information Officer in the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Madhya Pradesh, explained that such information could not be disclosed under the specified section of the RTI Act.
Dubey pointed out that this is the first instance of information on Project Cheetah being denied since the program commenced with the release of eight Namibian cheetahs into Kuno National Park on September 17, 2022. He previously obtained RTI information on the health of the first cheetah cub born in India, which disclosed a fractured leg on November 28. Dubey remarked that despite his history of revealing irregularities in big cat conservation since 2013, this is the first time information disclosure was denied on grounds of national security or foreign relations.
In September 2022, the initial batch of eight cheetahs was introduced, followed by a second batch of 12 cheetahs from South Africa in February. The government plans to introduce cheetahs into a fenced area in the Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary by year-end, emphasizing breeding. The Central Zoo Authority approved a proposal for a cheetah conservation breeding center in Gujarat’s Banni grasslands in February.
According to a document from the Environment Ministry of India, the long-term objective is to establish a metapopulation of cheetahs in the Kuno-Gandhisagar landscape, targeting 60-70 individuals after implementing restorative measures, ensuring prey availability, and scientific management. Despite initial criticism due to animal deaths, the cheetah conservation project is now viewed as progressing, marked by the birth of 12 cubs this year.
Notably, Namibian cheetah Aasha gave birth to three cubs in January, while another Namibian cheetah, Jwala, also had three cubs in January. South African cheetah Gamini gave birth to six cubs in March, bringing the total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in Kuno to 26.
Since March, seven adult cheetahs, including Shaurya, have died, with fatalities including Sasha, Uday, Daksha, Tejas, Suraj, Dhatri, and Shaurya.
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