Intended to create panic & sensation only: Forest Ministry slams report of delay in translocation of Cheetahs from South Africa to India
Govt said that the news reports on delay in paper work in South Africa leading to hindering the translocation of cheetahs to India are not based on facts and published with intention to create panic and sensation only.
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Bhopal, Dec 7: In a significant development, Cheetahs from South Africa will be arriving in India very soon, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. This came after reports of delay in the translocation of a dozen cheetahs quarantined in South Africa started to surface.
The Ministry, in a series of tweets, informed, "According to experts, Cheetahs meant for Indian program & are currently under quarantine in South Africa are in good health condition & there is no cause of concern. South African & Indian authorities are closely working together to make the cheetah introduction project a success."
Further calling news reports intended to create panic and sensation only, "News reports on delay in paper work in South Africa leading to hindering the translocation of cheetahs to India are not based on facts and published with intention to create panic and sensation only. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤!" it added.
Earlier, it was reported that a dozen cheetahs quarantined in South Africa for more than four months have lost fitness in their wait to be flown to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP). The wildlife experts also said prolonged quarantine is taking a toll on the health of these big cats, who are slated to join the eight cheetahs imported from Namibia and released in KNP in Sheopur district in mid-September.
Speaking on the same, Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah on Wednesday said after Namibia, now Cheetahs were expected to soon arrive from South Africa. Minister Vijay Shah told ANI, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the initiative of re-introduction of Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa. We have completed the first phase. After bringing eight Cheetahs from Namibia, we not only kept them in quarantine but also familiarised them with the environment and released them in an open enclosure. Now, these Cheetahs are hunting and they are in good health."
Prime Minister Modi released the eight Cheetahs on the occasion of his birthday on September 17 this year. "An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) for the next phase is in process. 12 new enclosures with more facilities were being built at the Kuno National Park. Enclosures are ready but we are improving them further," he added.
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