Paper: GS – III, Subject: Environment and Ecology, Topic: Biodiversity and Conservation, Issue: Project Cheetah.
Context:
The Cheetah Project Steering Committee proposed relocating older cheetahs to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and exploring a surrogacy program at Bhopal’s Van Vihar.
Key Takeaways:
About Cheetah Relocation from Kuno to Gandhi Sagar:
- The Cheetah Project Steering Committee was set up in May 2023 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to review, monitor, and advise on the cheetah reintroduction program.
| Project Cheetah: The Phase-1 of the project started in 2022, to restore the population of cheetahs, which were declared extinct in the country in 1952. It involves the translocation of cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park. The project is implemented by the NTCA in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Under Phase-2 of the Project India is considering sourcing cheetahs from Kenya due to similar habitats. Cheetahs will be translocated to Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh). |
Project Cheetah began in 2022 with the translocation of 8 cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa to Kuno National Park:
- Still, the project has faced setbacks, with 8 adult cheetahs and 5 cubs dying so far.
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary has been identified as a key part of establishing a cheetah meta-population of 60–70 individuals across the Kuno–Gandhi Sagar landscape, which stretches across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- As of now, there are 26 cheetahs at Kuno, of which 17 are in the wild and 9 are still inside large enclosures. It is yet to be decided whether the relocated cheetahs will come from the wild or enclosures.
- According to forest officials, prey species at Gandhi Sagar currently include chinkara, chousingha, nilgai, and chital.
Protection Status of Cheetahs:
- Cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
- They are protected under Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- They are also included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), offering the highest level of protection from international trade.
Surrogacy and Prey Base Revival for Cheetah Conservation in Van Vihar and Kuno:
Conclusion:
The shelved suggestions from the Cheetah Project Steering Committee meetings reflect the complex challenges and difficult decisions involved in wildlife conservation. The focus on reviving Kuno’s prey base underscores the importance of a holistic approach to conservation, considering not only the target species but also the entire ecosystem.
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