Cheetah Reintroduction Project will now extend beyond Kuno National Park to Banni Grasslands in Gujarat and Gandhisagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. This decision was announced at seventh National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) meeting. However, specific number of cheetahs to be introduced and timeline for their arrival have not been disclosed.
Cheetah Reintroduction Project
- The cheetah is fifth big cat species in India, joining tiger, lion, leopard, and snow leopard.
- The plan to bring back cheetahs to India was first initiated in 2009 by Wildlife Trust of India.
- The Supreme Court initially rejected project in 2013 but later approved it in 2020 as an experimental initiative.
- The project aims to establish a cheetah metapopulation for global conservation and to restore India’s grassland ecosystem, similar to the impact of Project Tiger on forests.
- 50 cheetahs were brought to India from African countries over five years. This was world’s first intercontinental translocation of big cats, initiated by Government of India, in collaboration with conservation experts and African nations.
Historical Context
- Cheetahs disappeared from India in 1947, primarily due to hunting and habitat destruction.
- The Indian government declared them extinct in 1952.
- The word “cheetah” comes from the Sanskrit term “Chitrak,” meaning “the spotted one.”
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
Challenges & Progress
- Since their arrival, seven adult cheetahs (three females, four males) have died, with four deaths due to septicemia.
- 17 cubs were born in India, and 12 have survived.
Cheetah Reintroduction at Kuno National Park
- African cheetahs were first introduced at Kuno National Park in September 2022 (from Namibia) and February 2023 (from South Africa).
- Location: Morena and Sheopur districts, Madhya Pradesh, near the Vindhyan Hills.
- Size: 750 sq. km of primarily grassland terrain, with rocky outcrops.
- History: Originally a wildlife sanctuary, it was upgraded to a national park in 2018.
Banni Grasslands (Gujarat)
- Located in the Kutch district, it spans 2,500 sq. km.
- Known for its diverse animal genetic resources, including Banni buffalo, Kankrej cattle, camels, sheep, and goats.
- A vital breeding and nesting ground for 250+ bird species, including winter migratory birds.
Gandhisagar Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh)
- Spread across 368.62 sq. km, it lies along the northern boundary of Mandsaur and Neemuch districts in Madhya Pradesh, adjoining Rajasthan.
- The Chambal River flows through it, dividing it into two parts.
- Home to rare species like wild dogs (dholes), chinkaras, leopards, otters, and crocodiles.
- Surrounds the Gandhi Sagar Dam backwaters, making it a crucial habitat for wildlife conservation.