Four Cheetah brought from Africa to India died due to Septicemia

Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav told the Rajya Sabha on 8 February 2024 that Namibian cheetah Shaurya died due to Septicemia. With this, the total number of Cheetah who have died due to this disease in the recent past has reached four.

• Cheetah Shaurya, who was imported from Namibia, died on 16 January 2024 in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

What caused the death of the Cheetah?

• Before Shaurya's death, Tbilisi (from Namibia) and two South African leopards, Tejas and Suraj, also died due to septicemia. Septicemia is a type of bacterial infection.
• The Union Environment Minister has informed the Rajya Sabha that a total of 20 adult cheetahs were brought from South Africa and Namibia. Seven out of these 20 Cheetahs and three out of the total 11 cubs born in India have died.
• Seven of these 11 cubs were born last month.

Proposal to introduce 14 animals in the next five years:

• Despite this, there is a proposal to bring 12-14 animals from South Africa and Namibia or other African countries in the next five years.
• Action has been initiated to bring back Cheetahs to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. This information was given by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav in the Rajya Sabha on 8 February.

About Septicemia:

• Sepsis or septicemia is a disease in which the body has a severe, inflammatory response to bacteria or other germs.

Causes of Septicemia:

• The symptoms of sepsis are not caused by the germs themselves. Instead, chemicals released by the body cause the reaction.
• A bacterial infection anywhere in the body can trigger a reaction that leads to sepsis. Common places where infection can begin include:
  • Blood
  • Bones (common in children)
  • Bowel (usually seen with peritonitis)
  • Kidneys (upper urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis or urosepsis)
  • Lining of the brain (meningitis)
  • Liver or gall bladder
  • Lungs (bacterial pneumonia)
  • Skin (cellulitis)
  • Sepsis usually affects infants or older adults.
  • Symptoms of Septicemia:
• In sepsis, blood pressure decreases, resulting in shock. Poor blood flow causes major organs including the kidneys, liver, lungs and central nervous system to not function properly.
• Changes in mental status and very rapid breathing can be early symptoms of sepsis.