CHEETAH PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE
1. Context
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has constituted a Cheetah Project Steering Committee as per the decision taken in a meeting with the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, chaired by the DG, Forest &SS, in supersession of O.M of even number dated 22nd September 2022 on the Cheetah Task Force.
2. Cheetah Reintroduction Project in India
- The Cheetah Reintroduction Project in India formally commenced on September 17, 2022, with the objective of restoring the population of cheetahs, which were declared extinct in the country in 1952.
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The project involves the translocation of cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
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20 radio-collared cheetahs were translocated from South Africa (12 cheetahs) and Namibia (8 cheetahs) to Kuno National Park.
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In March 2023, India announced the birth of 4 cubs to one of the eight cheetahs relocated from Namibia.
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The cheetahs underwent quarantine and were then shifted to larger acclimatization enclosures.
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Currently, there are 11 cheetahs in free-ranging condition and 5 animals, including a cub, in quarantine enclosures.
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Dedicated monitoring teams ensure round-the-clock monitoring of the free-ranging cheetahs.
3. Significance of Cheetah Reintroduction
- India as historical Cheetah habitat: The Cheetah habitat in India historically is from Jammu to Tamil Nadu, very widespread and they were found in any habitat dry forests, grasslands, scrub forests, etc.
- Pray base: Experts believe that as long as there is enough food and there is protection they will regenerate on their own. A‘prey base’ that can sustain the population and that has already been prepared at the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary.
- Cheetahs will help restore open forest and grassland ecosystems in India.
- The cheetah is a flagship grassland species; whose conservation also helps in preserving other grassland species in the predator food chain.
- This will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration, and soil moisture conservation, benefiting society at large.
- It will also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community through eco-development and ecotourism activities.
4. About Cheetah Project Steering Committee
Mandate:
- To monitor the progress of the Cheetah reintroduction programme and advise the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
- To decide on opening up the cheetah habitat for eco-tourism and,
- Suggest regulations and ways to involve the local community in the project activities.
Members and head:
- The 11-member Cheetah Project Steering Committee comprises national and international experts.
- Several international experts have been involved in the cheetah translocation project from Namibia and South Africa.
- It will be led by Rajesh Gopal, secretary general, of Global Tiger Forum and closely associated with Project Tiger.
Duration: The committee will be in force for two years and will convene at least one meeting every month, besides conducting field visits to Kuno National Park.
5. About Kuno National Park
- Kuno National Park is a national park in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh (MP).
- It was established in 1981 as a wildlife sanctuary. In 2018, it was given the status of a national park.
- It is a part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests.
- Kuno River, a tributary of the Chambal River flows through the National Park.
- Eight cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were transported to India and introduced at Kuno National Park (KNP).
6. Why is Kuno National Park (KNP) unsuitable
- The lack of sufficient prey in Kuno National Park (KNP) was a "concerning" situation.
- In KNP, chital is the most abundant prey for carnivorous species. At present, there is about 20 chital-the cheetah's main prey-per square kilometer available at the KNP, a sharp decline from the nearly 60 chitals per square km that could be found in the park in 2014.
- This amount of chitals would sustain a maximum of 15 cheetahs and the other 5 should have been shifted elsewhere.
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For Prelims: Project Cheetah, Kuno National Park, Cheetah Reintroduction Project, and NationalTiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
For Mains: 1. Discuss the objectives and scope of Project Cheetah, a proposed reintroduction project aimed at restoring cheetah populations in a specific region. Examine the potential benefits and challenges associated with such an initiative. (250 words).
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Previous year Questions
1. Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites? (UPSC 2017)
A. Corbett National Park
B. Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary
C. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
D. Sariska National Park
Answer: B
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Source: PIB
