Imported Felines: Shahu Ji's Cheetahs

When the import of fabric and perfume did not pique Shahu Ji Maharaj's interest, he turned to importing Cheetahs. These swift felines were brought from Africa to aid hunting in Kolhapur.

Cheetah and Cubs I Source: LiveScience

Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu, born in the mighty Maratha Empire, held the title of Sahu IV and played a pivotal role in consolidating the Maratha Empire. Ruling over the Kolhapur Kingdom (1710-1949), which encompassed the region of the Maratha Princely state, he spearheaded numerous reforms aimed at uplifting the depressed classes. His commitment to social reforms is well-known. He advocated for the legalisation of widow remarriage, abolished the Devadasi system, and endeavoured to create a society free from the practice of untouchability. A staunch democrat and social reformer, Shahu Maharaj established schools for young girls and made significant efforts to eradicate the practice of child marriage.

Shahu Maharaj brought Cheetahs from Africa to his Kingdom in Kolhapur, training them for hunting prey, especially the blackbucks of Kolhapur. During royal hunts, the rulers and their packs utilised these Cheetahs. The import was influenced by the longstanding hunting tradition in India. Maharaj was inspired during his visit to the Bhavnagar Kingdom, witnessing the usage of trained animals in hunts. He later sent the Cheetahs to Bhavnagar to be trained for hunting blackbucks. The Cheetahs Shahuji Maharaj imported from Africa were named Star, Bhawani, Shankar, Lakshmi, Ganpya, and Veermati. Given their scarcity, the Cheetahs were highly prized, and even their transportation to Kolhapur was meticulously planned.

Shahuji's Cheetahs came from Nairobi. Indian subordinates of the King travelled to Africa to purchase them. In Shahuji's reign, there were thirty-five Cheetahs in India. These Cheetahs arrived from Nairobi to Kolhapur, a known market for Cheetahs, where a dedicated space called Cheetah Karkhana or Chittekhana was reserved for them. The import also created the demand for caretakers for the Cheetahs.

“King’s men would go to Nairobi and bring the cheetahs by ship, and then onto a special container on a freight train to Kolhapur by train from Mumbai. Thus, adding to the number and there were 60 to 70 cheetahs, from 1900 to 1940 in Kolhapur."(Source: HindustanTimes)

Cheetahs in India became extinct in 1948, prompting efforts by the Indian government to reintroduce them. In 2023, twenty Cheetahs were brought from Namibia to Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

“This effectively means e corridors to other unfenced reserves that the project aims to enable cheetahs to establish themselves as viable and free-ranging populations in large unfenced wildlife reserves which are in turn connected by wildlife." (Source: The Hindu)

However, despite observation, Cheetahs in India faced extinction due to heatwaves and exposure to new parasites. The unsuitable environment and unfamiliarity with India's terrain necessitate providing them with a suitable habitat. Since 1955, there has been an ongoing debate about introducing Cheetahs, considering their compatibility.

The reintroduction of Cheetahs has been successfully initiated. The two Cheetahs, Oban and Aasha, were released in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. They were under strict surveillance given the history of reintroduction, and they were observed to be successfully adapting. The pair began hunting, and the government plans to release more Cheetahs in the vicinity. A month later, another pair was released, and they have also given birth to four cubs.

Experts from Africa have reported that there is a 50 per cent mortality rate after reintroduction, suggesting that the increasing number of deaths of the Cheetahs since March 2023 is not surprising. Unfortunately, the Cheetahs continue to die due to parasites and weaknesses.