The locally extinct cheetah-subspecies of India is found in Iran and is categorized as critically endangered. An important consideration during such conservation efforts is that the sourcing of animals should not be detrimental for the survival of the source population. Since it is not possible to source the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah from Iran without affecting this sub-species, India will source cheetahs from Southern Africa, which can provide India with substantial numbers of suitable cheetah for several years.
Cheetahs from Southern Africa have the maximum observed genetic diversity among extant cheetah lineages, an important attribute for a founding population stock. Moreover, the Southern African cheetahs are found to be ancestral to all the other cheetah lineages including those found in Iran. Hence, this should therefore be ideal (for reasons stated above) for India’s reintroduction programme.
Cheetahs to be brought from Africa, 50 Cheetahs to enter national parks in five years
New Delhi
The Government of India's well thought of Project Cheetah is expected bring back independent India’s only extinct large mammal – the cheetah.
"As part of the project, 50 cheetahs will be introduced in various National Parks over five years," it has been announced by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav.
Unveiling the action plan, he informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on the protection and conservation of seven major big cats including Cheetah.
Cheetah happens to be the only large carnivore that got completely wiped out from India,
mainly due to over-hunting and habitat loss, a statement from the Ministry said.
The Action Plan highlights the nation’s preparedness in bringing the cheetah back. Conservation of Cheetahs
has a "very special significance for the national conservation ethic and ethos", it said.
The very name 'Cheetah' (Acinonyx Jubatus Venaticus) originates from Sanskrit and means
'the spotted one'.
The Ministry officials say Cheetahs are "not a threat to humans" and do not attack large
livestock either.
"Besides conserving the big cat, the initiative in itself is a boon to the ecosystem. Cheetahs live in open
plains; their habitat is predominantly where their preys live - grasslands, scrubs and open forest systems,
semi-arid environments and temperatures that tend to be hotter compared to cooler regimes".
In saving cheetahs, one would have to save not only its prey-base comprising certain threatened species,
but also other endangered species of the grasslands and open forest ecosystems, some of which are
on the brink of extinction.
It is also observed that among large carnivores, conflict with human interests is lowest for Cheetahs.
Amongst the 10 surveyed sites of the central Indian states, Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in
Madhya Pradesh has been rated the highest.
This is because of its suitable habitat and adequate prey base.
KNP is 748 sq. km. in area, devoid of human settlements, and is estimated to have a capacity to sustain
21 cheetahs.
Kuno is probably the only wildlife site in the country where there has been a complete relocation of
villages from inside the park.
Kuno also offers the prospect of housing four big cats of India - tiger, lion, leopard and cheetah –
and allowing them to coexist as in the past.
The other sites recommended for holding and conservation breeding of cheetah in India, in controlled wild conditions are:
- Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary – Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary complex Madhya Pradesh, Shahgarh bulge in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and Mukundara Tiger Reserve as fenced enclosure Rajasthan
ends
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