Radio collars of six Kuno cheetahs removed, two had ‘severe infection’

The two cheetahs are among six free-ranging cheetahs that have been brought back to their enclosures as part of a prevention plan following the death of two cheetahs on July 11 and 14.

Written by: Anand Mohan J

3 min readBhopalUpdated: Jul 24, 2023 10:49 AM IST

Radio collars of six Kuno cheetahs removed, two had ‘severe infection’

Brought back to enclosures, health check-up done. (File Photo/Representational)

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Radio collars of six Kuno cheetahs removed, two had ‘severe infection’

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At least two free-ranging cheetahs at the Kuno national park in Madhya Pradesh were treated for a severe infection detected after their radio collars were removed, wildlife officials said.

The two cheetahs are among six free-ranging cheetahs that have been brought back to their enclosures as part of a prevention plan following the death of two cheetahs on July 11 and 14.

After the incidents, two South African cheetah experts had told The Indian Express that radio collars could be causing problems.

Days before he was removed from his post, former Madhya Pradesh chief wildlife warden, J S Chauhan, had also suggested the devices be removed, saying he suspected these were causing infection among the cheetahs.

On Sunday, officials said they removed the radio collars of six cheetahs — Pavak, Aasha, Dheera, Pavan, Gaurav and Shaurya — and also examined them for medical conditions.

Also Read | Cheetahs are difficult breeders, but Kuno death was avoidable: Here’s why

“Some cheetahs had small lesions, but the male coalition of Namibian brothers Gaurav and Shaurya had severe infection. We have stocked up the medicines for them and are discussing ways to ensure that the problem of radio collars doesn’t resurface. There may be an issue with the design which will be discussed,” said a wildlife official.

Wildlife officials said the cheetahs were in different stages of infection but, in general terms, healthy.

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Wildlife officials said they faced difficulty in tranquilising the cheetahs in order to shift them to the enclosures and it became possible only after long-range darting experts were called in. The cheetahs, the officials added, were eventually tranquilised by South African expert Mike Toft.

At least eight of the 20 cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno since September last have died so far due to various reasons.

The first, on March 27, was of a Namibian cheetah named Sasha, who died of a kidney ailment. Officials believe Sasha had had the problem before her arrival at Kuno.

Also Read | What causes cheetah deaths, and why confining them may not help

On May 9, a female cheetah Daksha, brought from South Africa, died following a “violent interaction” with two male cheetahs during mating.

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The two male cheetahs who died on July 11 and 14 were named Tajas and Suraj. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has refuted reports suggesting Tajas and Suraj died due to infections caused by radio collars as “unscientific”.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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