As per recent news, India is set to kickstart an ambitious plan of transcontinental relocation of Cheetahs. The country will soon release cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia into the wild at Kuno Palpur in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. This comes decades after the last spotted cheetah, native to India, died in Chhattisgarh in 1947, leading to the species being declared extinct in the country in 1952. Years ago, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) prepared a Cheetah reintroduction project, which is now close to materialisation.
Key Facts about Cheetahs
Cheetahs are one of the oldest big cat species, tracing their ancestry back to over five million years ago during the Miocene era. They hold the title of the world’s fastest land mammal and are native to parts of Africa and Asia. There are two main varieties – the African Cheetah and the Asiatic Cheetah – both of which differ in certain physical characteristics and inhabit different regions. The African variety boasts a thick, slightly brownish-golden skin with much more prominent spots and lines than its Asiatic cousin. It is widely distributed across the African continent with population numbering in thousands but classified as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List. The Asiatic Cheetah has a paler skin and is slightly smaller than its African counterpart. Sadly, it is currently ‘Critically Endangered’ with less than 100 individuals left, confined only to Iran.
Threats to the Cheetah Population
Several challenges have contributed to the dwindling numbers of Cheetahs globally. From human-wildlife conflict and loss of habitat and prey to illegal trafficking – these magnificent animals face grave threats. Uncontrolled deforestation and agricultural expansion have led to shrinking forest lands, impacting the Cheetah habitat, with climate change and burgeoning human populations exacerbating the issue.
India’s Conservation Efforts
With firm commitment towards conservation, the Wildlife Institute of India had prepared a Rs 260-crore cheetah Re-introduction project seven years ago. This is slated to be the world’s first inter-continental cheetah translocation project. To support this initiative, the Ministry of Environment in the 19th meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) released an “Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India”. As part of this plan, the NTCA has decided to bring 50 African Cheetah from Namibia over the next five years.
About Kuno National Park
The chosen location for this reintroduction – Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh – is a magnet for wildlife lovers and enthusiasts owing to its rich biodiversity. It boasts a healthy population of chital, sambar, nilgai, wild pig, chinkara and cattle. Currently, the leopard and striped hyena represent the park’s larger predators, with the lone tiger having returned to Ranthambore earlier this year. With the arrival of the cheetahs, the park is expected to draw greater attention as it contributes to the conservation of this unique species.
