Five cheetahs to be released in the wild starting next week

{ KUNO NATIONAL PARK} WILD CATS FROM NAMIBIA

- Shruti Tomar

BHOPAL: Ahead of the release of cheetahs translocated from Namibia into the wild in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park starting next week, forest department officials on Tuesday said that only five of the eight animals will be released as the other three-who have spent much of their lives in captivity - are yet to adapt to their environment.

The five cheetahs, two females and three males, who lived in the wild before they were brought to the country from Namibia, will be released in the first phase, the officials familiar with the matter said.

"Brothers Elton and Freddie, will be released first," an MP forest official said.

The date of release of the three remaining cheetahs, Sasha, Siyaya and Savannah, has not been decided yet, the officials said, with wildlife experts expressing concerns over their chances of survival.

The cheetahs are currently in hunting enclosures at the park.

"These three may not be able to adjust to the tough wild life (yet). They need to hone their skills," a forest department official said requesting anonymity.

To be sure, the animals were not bred in captivity, but have spent most of their lives in controlled environments.