Uday, another cheetah brought in from South Africa has died at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The death of the six-year-old male feline is the second in less than one month. 

The incident is seen as a major setback for the ambitious 'Project Cheetah' under which 20 felines were translocated to KNP in Sheopur district from Namibia and South Africa in separate batches in September 2022 and February this year.

On March 27, Sasha, a four-year-old Namibian cheetah died of kidney failure. "During the inspection in the morning, a cheetah (Uday) brought from South Africa was found dull with head down following which veterinarians attending him alerted senior officials and the feline was taken out from the large enclosure for treatment. Unfortunately, around 4 pm, the cheetah passed away," Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Wildlife, J S Chauhan said.

Uday appeared to be lethargic and limping during the daily check-up. He was tranquilised and administered the first round of treatment at 11 am; he died at 4 pm. 

Of the 20 cats brought into the country about 18 remain now. The cheetah was declared extinct in the country in 1952. It was in 2020 that the Supreme Court ruled that African cheetahs could be brought into the country at a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs from Namibia on the occasion of his birthday. 

--With PTI inputs