The Madhya Pradesh Government on Tuesday refuted Bishnoi community’s claim that Chitals were being shifted from Rajasthan, Haryana and other States to feed the eight Cheetahs which were brought from Namibia last weekat to the Kuno Palpur sanctuary.
The State Government said that there was a sufficient prey base in the sanctuary including more than 20,000 Chital in the region.
The clarification came following a letter shot off by All India Bishnoi Mahasabha president Devendra Budiya to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his displeasure over 181 Cheetahs and deer being sent from Rajgad forest to Sheopur for the carnivores.
Budia said that the Centre has brought 8 cheetahs from Namibia under his leadership to restore the extinct species in the forests of India. But leaving their food mainly Chital, Deer etc. in the forest has hurt the sentiments of the Bishnoi community.