Female Cheetah 'Sasha' Brought from Namibia, Passes Away

• 28 Mar 2023

Why in News?

On March 27, 2023, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife J.S. Chauhan told that the female cheetah 'Sasha' released from Namibia in Kuno National Park has died due to kidney infection. Infection in the kidneys of this female cheetah was already there before coming to India.

Key Points

• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Wildlife J.S. Chouhan said that the need for treatment was found in the health test of the female cheetah by the veterinarian deputed to look after the health of the cheetah. As a result, he was brought to the Quarantine enclosure on the same day.
• Cheetah's health test was done in the lab located in Van Vihar National Park with modern machines. A blood sample test revealed that Sasha had a kidney infection.
• JS Chauhan said that after receiving the treatment history of 'Sasha' from Cheetah Conservation Foundation, Namibia by senior scientists of Wildlife Conservation of India Dehradun and Coono National Park Management, it was known that the last blood sample in Namibia was on August 15, 2022. His creatinine level was also found to be more than 400, which confirmed that Sasha had kidney disease before coming to India.
• From January 22, 2023 until the time of 'Sasha''s death, treatment was done continuously day and night by all the wildlife doctors of Kuno National Park and Namibian expert Dr. Ilai Walker.
• The remaining 7 cheetahs brought from Namibia, in which 3 males and 1 female have been released in the open forest area for free movement, are hunting completely healthy and active. All 12 cheetahs brought from South Africa are currently healthy and active in quarantine enclosures.
• It is known that on September 17, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released eight cheetahs brought from Namibia at Kuno National Park in Sheopur.