Jabalpur:Scientists of Jabalpur's School of Wildlife Forensic and Health are probing into the recent deaths of three cheetahs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Two days back, female cheetah Daksha died after a violent encounter with two male cheetahs. Earlier, two more cheetahs, Sasha and Uday had died on March 27 and April 23 respectively. With the three deaths, the total count of cheetahs at the national park stand at 17. A total of 20 cheetahs were brought from South Africa to Kuno National Plant in two phases in September and February.
Dr. Shobha Jawar, director of this organization, said it has been revealed that Daksha's body had many signs of deadly attacks. She had a deep wound on her head, which is likely to have led to her death. Daksha was released among two male cheetahs Vayu and Agni in Kuno National Park and during the mating there was a violent clash following which she died, Dr. Shobha said.
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She said that she has also talked to foreign experts who agreed that sometimes such violent incidents happen when the partners do not cooperate during mating. A detailed report is being prepared in connection with Daksha's death, she said.
This apart, investigation is on for Uday and Sasha's death. Dr. Shobha said that Sasha died due to failure of the cardiovascular system and kidney. The organs were not responding due to which Sasha could not survive, she said. In case of Uday, scientists have found that the death was due to a mixed bacterial and viral infection.
Dr. Shobha said that the DNA of the virus and bacteria has been sent to the virology lab so as to ascertain as what actually infected the cheetah. Once we find out which viruses and bacteria are dangerous then it will be useful to the park management in the rearing of cheetahs, she added.
