India's ambitious project to bring cheetahs back to its landscapes has been hit by a tragic and significant loss. A 26-month-old cheetah cub, born to the South African cheetah named Gamini, was killed on the spot after being struck by a high-speed vehicle on the Agra–Mumbai Highway near Gwalior in the early hours of Sunday.
A Tragic Incident Under Watchful Eyes
The fatal collision occurred in full view of the Forest Department's tracking team, which had been monitoring the sub-adult animal throughout the night via its satellite collar. Sources indicate the young cheetah attempted to cross the busy national highway between 5 am and 6 am. It was then hit by a vehicle travelling from Gujarat towards Rajasthan.
Authorities used CCTV footage from multiple points along the highway to identify the vehicle involved. It was successfully intercepted near Kota just a few hours after the incident. A joint inquiry has been initiated to determine the exact cause, investigating factors like overspeeding, low visibility, or possible driver negligence.
Second Death in 72 Hours for Kuno's Cheetahs
This roadkill comes as a devastating second blow within just three days. Seventy-two hours earlier, another cheetah cub died inside Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. That cub had been released into the wild by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav as part of World Cheetah Day celebrations. Initial suspicions point to a fatal fall from a height, with a detailed postmortem report still awaited.
The death of Gamini's cub on the highway has sharply highlighted the dangers cheetahs face when dispersing through fragmented habitats. At 26 months old, the cub was in a natural exploratory phase, travelling long distances at night in search of new territory—a common behaviour for sub-adults. "Gamini and her cubs had been near the highway for the last few days," a forest officer revealed.
Conservation Challenges and Calls for Safety Measures
Senior officials have termed the death "a significant setback" for Project Cheetah. The Agra–Mumbai Highway, a critical freight corridor, cuts across vital wildlife movement corridors and forest patches. Conservationists have repeatedly warned about the risks such infrastructure poses to large carnivores, especially as they venture beyond the core release zone at Kuno.
This marks the first recorded highway fatality of a cheetah since the reintroduction program began in 2023. In response, officials are now considering urgent measures to enhance safety, which could include:
- Implementing speed regulation zones near protected areas.
- Installing early-warning systems for drivers.
- Creating and promoting the use of designated wildlife underpasses.
The carcass of the cub was transported back to Kuno National Park for a postmortem by a panel of wildlife veterinarians. A detailed report will be submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Meanwhile, monitoring teams at Kuno have intensified surveillance of the remaining dispersing sub-adult cheetahs.
Project Cheetah, aimed at reintroducing the species to India after a seventy-year absence, has experienced mixed outcomes, with several deaths attributed to various causes like disease and conflicts. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey has demanded accountability "at the highest level" following this latest tragedy, underscoring the project's precarious path forward.
