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Gaurav’s Death Ends Kuno’s First Namibian Cheetah Coalition
Gaurav was a cheetah brought from Namibia to India in 2022.
He lived with his brother Shaurya in Kuno National Park.
Together, they hunted, explored and defended territory.
They helped show that reintroduced cheetahs could begin living like wild animals in India.
Shaurya died in January 2024, leaving Gaurav alone.
Gaurav became weak and died during treatment on September 21.
He had three cubs with another cheetah named Nirva.
Those cubs are now independent and continue his family line in India.
Over-10-year-old Namibian cheetah Gaurav died during treatment at Kuno National Park on September 21.
Gaurav and his brother Shaurya were among eight cheetahs brought from Namibia to India in September 2022.
The brothers became Kuno’s first major coalition to establish territory, hunt successfully and compete with other cheetahs.
Gaurav later sired three cubs with South African cheetah Nirva; the cubs are now independent.
Kuno now has 51 cheetahs, while India’s total population is 55 including four at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Who
- Gaurav, a Namibian cheetah brought to India with his brother Shaurya.
- What
- Gaurav died during treatment, ending the story of Kuno’s first major Namibian cheetah coalition.
- Where
- Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India.
- When
- September 21; Gaurav had arrived in India in September 2022.
- Why
- The precise cause of death remains pending a post-mortem examination and sample analysis; he had been found severely dehydrated, weak and suffering muscle wasting.
Key facts
- Age
- Over 10 years old
- Origin
- Namibia
- Arrival in India
- September 2022, with seven other cheetahs
- Brother
- Shaurya, originally known as Freddie; Gaurav was originally known as Elton
- Offspring
- Three cubs with Nirva, a South African female
- Kuno population
- 51 cheetahs, including 36 Indian-born animals
- India’s total population
- 55 cheetahs, including four at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
Quotes
Uttam Sharma
Field Director of Kuno National Park
“Gaurav will always be remembered in Kuno as one of the original pioneers of Project Cheetah: One of the first to establish himself, one of the first to hunt, one of the first to compete, and one of the first to demonstrate that these magnificent animals could begin building their lives again on Indian soil.”
thehansindia.com
“Some cheetahs arrive in a new land and become part of its history. A few become its legends. Gaurav and Shaurya—Elton and Freddie—were among those special cheetahs.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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