India, June 15 -- Project Cheetah's criticisms are rooted in "ideological biases, oversimplified extrapolations, and sensationalised narratives," scientists from National Tiger Conservation Authority, Project Tiger and National Zoological Park, Delhi have written in an analysis in Frontiers journal on Monday.

The group of scientists have said that initial findings suggest ecological adaptability of cheetahs in India. it is premature to define ecology, home ranges and space use patterns for cheetahs in India, they have cautioned.

Preliminary observations from free-ranging cheetahs in Kuno National Park found they predate on a variety of prey including Indian hare, chital, sambar, four-horned antelope, chinkara, blackbuck, and nilgai, wit...