Northern Hemisphere Cheetahs

The National Tiger Conservation Authority is prioritizing cheetah sourcing from Northern Hemisphere countries to ensure better adaptation to Indian climatic conditions.

Cheetahs from Southern Hemisphere countries like South Africa and Namibia developed thick winter coats during the Indian summer, leading to complications and deaths in some animals.
Three cheetahs, including a Namibian female and two South African males, died from maggot-infested wounds beneath their winter coats, causing blood infections.
The biorhythm differences between the hemispheres are believed to cause these animals to anticipate the African winter, leading to inappropriate pelage changes in India.
Officials are considering sourcing new cheetahs from Northern Hemisphere countries such as Somalia, Tanzania, and Sudan to prevent further biorhythm-related issues.
The current focus remains on immediate challenges, including prey base augmentation, managing the leopard population, and preparing the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
The steering committee has decided to release African cheetahs and their cubs, born in India, into the wild in a phased manner after the monsoon season ends in central India.