After three cheetahs died in just over a month last year in Madhya Pradesh's <keyword id="19948081" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kuno-National-Park" source="keywords">Kuno National Park</keyword>, the <keyword id="19973832" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Tiger-Conservation-Authority" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Tiger Conservation Authority" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Tiger Conservation Authority">National Tiger Conservation Authority</keyword> in May 2023 called in experts from <keyword id="23075708" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliances-wildlife-facility" source="keywords">Reliance's wildlife facility</keyword> in Gujarat to review health monitoring protocols, official records show. The National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) Assistant Inspector General of Forests Abhishek Kumar wrote to the CEO of <keyword id="19896380" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-Industries" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reliance Industries" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reliance Industries">Reliance Industries</keyword>' Jamnagar-based Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (<keyword id="23075709" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GZRRC" source="keywords">GZRRC</keyword>) on May 11, 2023, requesting that a team of experts be sent to <keyword id="19949149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kuno" source="keywords">Kuno</keyword> to "review health monitoring protocols" and provide advice to "ensure the welfare of the cheetahs" following the deaths of three cheetahs between March 27 and May 9. Kumar's letter said <keyword id="20053655" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Project-Cheetah" source="keywords">Project Cheetah</keyword> was the first intercontinental reintroduction of a wild, large carnivore species with "no comparable historical precedent" and it was not surprising that a project of such a "magnitude and complexity would face many challenges". "Due to careful planning and execution, all 20 cheetahs survived the initial capture, quarantine and lengthy transport to the purpose-built quarantine and larger acclimatisation enclosure in Kuno. We are given to understand that Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre has expert veterinarians who are handling a substantial number of cheetahs in captivity," read the letter, seen by PTI. GZRRC director Brij Kishor Gupta wrote back on May 24, 2023, saying a four-member team would visit Kuno on May 25-26. The team included "senior veterinary officers" Jorge Francisco Soares and Nitin Yashwant Tambe, lab in-charge Mandeep and Gupta himself. In response to PTI's question via email, Gupta said, "The National Tiger Conservation Authority requested GZRRC last year to assess the healthcare protocols of cheetahs being followed at Kuno, we sent our team of experts veterinarians and (the) director and found that they are following the right protocol for health care management of cheetahs." GZRRC experts visited Kuno only once, Gupta said but gave no clear answer on whether they were providing any guidance or support to the project at present. Gupta added that all forms of interaction, engagement and knowledge exchange conducted by the GZRRC with government and non-government entities in the fields of animal welfare, research and conservation were carried out "strictly on a non-commercial basis". As part of the first ever intercontinental translocation of big cats, a total of 20 cheetahs — eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023 — were brought to Kuno. Since their arrival, eight adult cheetahs — three female and five male — have died. Seventeen cubs have been born in India, with 12 surviving. This brings the total number of cheetahs, including cubs, in Kuno to 24, all of which are currently in enclosures. Three cheetahs — one male and two female — died between March 27 and May 9, 2023. According to Project Cheetah's annual report for 2023-24, Namibian female cheetah Sasha died due to "chronic renal insufficiency" on March 27, 2023, becoming the first mortality in the project. "Sasha developed kidney problems after her arrival and received continuous care for two months but, unfortunately, she did not respond positively to the treatment and passed away," the annual report says. South African male cheetah Uday "suddenly died" on April 23, 2023, within the larger acclimatisation enclosure "without displaying any prior symptoms". South African female cheetah Daksha died on May 9, 2023, due to injuries from a violent encounter with a male coalition during a mating attempt, according to the report. The GZRRC experts' visit was immediately preceded by the death of three cubs born to Namibian cheetah Jwala between May 23 and May 25 due to extreme heat. Bhopal-based wildlife activist Ajay Dubey questioned the need to involve GZRRC in the project when "top <keyword id="20396265" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wildlife-experts" source="keywords">wildlife experts</keyword> from the NTCA, Wildlife Institute of India, South Africa, and Namibia are already part of it". "The government even sent staff from the Madhya Pradesh wildlife department for training in cheetah management in South Africa and Namibia. What did they learn?" he asked. "And even if you have approached GZRRC, why keep it a secret? There is no mention of the support sought from Reliance Industries' wildlife facility in the annual report of Project Cheetah," he added. The minutes of the Cheetah Project Monitoring Committee meetings, obtained by PTI through an RTI application, also do not mention this involvement. Besides wildlife experts from NTCA, the Wildlife Institute of India and other government facilities, Kuno currently has a dedicated team of four veterinarians for Project Cheetah. It has also received veterinary support and guidance from wildlife veterinarians in South Africa and Namibia, including Adrian Tordiffe, hospital director at Onderstepoort Veterinary College, South Africa; Mike Toft from Kifaru Wildlife Veterinary Services, South Africa; Andy Fraser from Rooiberg Veterinary Services, South Africa; and Ana Basto from the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia. GZRRC director Gupta told PTI that they had more than 40 cheetahs rescued from different captive facilities. All the cheetahs are captive born in the country of origin of the captive facility. There have been "no mortalities of cheetahs at GZRRC till date" and all the animals are all "faring very well", he said. Gupta said they had "some of the best veterinarians in wildlife health management". He said the cheetah project had been "doing very well". "It has been noted that birth of several cubs has taken place on Indian soil and the survival rate is good in comparison to similar projects in other parts of the world." When asked about the challenges of cheetah management based on their experience, Gupta said, "GZRRC specialises in the study, management, care and research of cheetahs within captive environments. The primary focus areas for cheetahs in captivity include veterinary care, nutrition, housing, exercise and enrichment. GZRRC has successfully established optimal standards across all these domains." He emphasised that "the operation and management of a captive programme differ significantly from those of a re-wilding programme". The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) granted approval for the setting up of GZRRC on February 14, 2019, and accorded it recognition on August 17, 2020. According to its 2023-24 annual report submitted to the CZA, new facilities such as Rescue Centre for Herbivores, Asiatic Lion Care, Medical Research and Hospital, Cheetah Conservation and Research Centre, Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre and multi-specialty hospital were added to GZRRC in 2023-24.

After sudden cheetah deaths in Kuno, Centre turned to Reliance's wildlife facility for help

<ul><li>The total number of cases in Mumbai currently stands at eight after two women tested positive for Coronavirus. </li><li>The total number of infected people in Maharashtra surges to 47. </li><li>The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai started imposing a hefty fine of ₹ 1,000 for people found spitting in public.</li></ul>Two new cases of Coronavirus were reported in the Mumbai metropolitan region on Thursday (March 19), taking the total number of such cases in Maharashtra to 47, officials said. One woman had returned from the UK, and another one had a travel history to Dubai. The total number of cases in Mumbai currently stands at 8. India saw a steep rise in the number of infected cases after 28 new cases were reported from 10 states on Wednesday (March 18), taking the total number of infected people to 184. Maha government setups more quarantine facilities With the number of coronavirus cases touching 47 in the state, Maharashtra's anti-coronavirus battle became even fiercer with more testing and quarantine facilities. This is besides the all-out efforts implemented to avoid the challenge of keeping the crowd at bay in public areas and at workplaces. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope announced that from Thursday, additional coronavirus testing labs would start operating at KEM Hospital and Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai and BJ Medical College in Pune. In the next few days, a total of eight more laboratories shall be opened, including at Haffkine Institute in Mumbai. They will test around 250 samples daily. In Mumbai, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) permitted several private hospitals to start isolation wards with 88 beds. They include Hinduja Hospital (20), Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (17 beds), Lilavati (15), Raheja (12), Jagjivan Ram WR (10), Jaslok (5), Bombay Hospital (4), HN Reliance (2), Gurunanak (2) and St. Elizabeth (2). After BMC, MCGM orders closing of businesses The Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Pravin Pardeshi, ordered shutting of all shops, business establishments etc. on alternate days to reduce crowds. The order will be implemented after the concerned ward heads submit details to the MCGM. After making repeated appeals for 'work from home', the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has now warned of punitive action against those private companies which fail to implement 50% staff norms or disallow work from home. CM Thackeray makes some strict decision Mumbai local trains and retail shops CM Uddhav Thackeray said that the number of suburban trains and buses would be reduced, standees won't be permitted and those seating would be kept at a safe distance as precautionary measures. Thackeray urged 17 million people of Mumbai and nearly 12 crore population of Maharashtra, not to panic or stock up essentials as there is sufficient supply. However, Thackeray said the government plans to implement shift hours for retail shops/markets in different urban localities. Mumbaikars go on self-quarantine Mumbai and Pune — the two worst-hit cities with maximum Coronavirus cases — has visibly reduced commuters in trains and buses. However, the number of private vehicles on roads and highways hasn't shown a noticeable decline so far. All beaches in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are near-deserted. Prominent hill stations in the Western Ghats, resorts, wildlife sanctuaries, tourist destinations also run almost empty. All major places of worship like temples, churches, mosques-mausoleums and gurdwaras have shut their doors for devotees. A few religious organisations and sects are offering online prayers, namaz etc. to keep crowds and the virus away. The state already elapsed into the partial shutdown with all schools, colleges, malls, theatres, cinemas, gyms and swimming pools closed till March 31. Mumbai crackdown on black marketers with a hefty fine Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the Minister for Food &amp; Civil Supplies, Rajendra Shingane, swooped on pharmacies after complaints of black marketeering of masks, sanitisers etc. He issued instructions to deal with such wilful offenders in the sternest manner. The MCGM started imposing a hefty fine of ₹ 1,000 for people found spitting in public. At the same time, the Bhiwandi Police in Thane slapped a case against Arihant Mattresses for making false claims of 'anti-coronavirus' beddings. Actions are also being initiated at various levels against those spreading fake messages on social media. Local organisations, like the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi legislators — the father-son duo of Hitendra and Kshitij Thakur— are distributing masks among bus passengers in Palghar and disinfecting all public buses for public safety. (with inputs from IANS)

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After sudden cheetah deaths in Kuno, Centre turned to Reliance's wildlife facility for help

PTI

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