Source: The Hindu
Prabhas and Pawak, two cheetahs, relocated to Madhya Pradesh. They were released into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The six-year-old boys are part of the group of cheetahs who were transported from South Africa to Kuno National Park in February 2023.
The first cheetahs were brought to Kuno in September 2022. The initiative is encouragingly succeeding. Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary is now the second location in the state where cheetahs are being introduced, after Kuno National Park
In May, four cheetahs will be moved from Botswana to Gandhi Sagar, and another four will follow later in the second phase. The world’s greatest number of cheetah newborns had been documented in Kuno. Currently, Kuno has 24 cheetahs: 10 in enclosures and 14 in the wild.
Model Question:
“Project Cheetah aims not just at reintroducing a charismatic species but also at reviving ecosystems. Examine the ecological, socio-political, and logistical challenges in implementing Project Cheetah in the Kuno and Gandhi Sagar landscape.”
Model Answer:
Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, aims to reintroduce the extinct cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in India, starting with the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The broader vision includes developing a cheetah meta-population across landscapes including Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. This reintroduction is significant both symbolically and ecologically.
Ecological Significance:
- Trophic cascade effects: Cheetahs can restore ecological balance by controlling herbivore populations and maintaining prey diversity.
- Grassland conservation: Their presence may bring attention and protection to underappreciated ecosystems like open forests and savannahs.
- Landscape-level conservation: Linking Kuno with Gandhi Sagar via a wildlife corridor can ensure genetic diversity and long-term viability.
Challenges:
- Ecological:
Habitat fragmentation: The Kuno-Gandhi Sagar corridor crosses human-dominated areas, making connectivity difficult.
Prey base inadequacy: Kuno lacks the prey density (e.g., chinkara, blackbuck) to sustain large cheetah populations.
Inter-species conflict: Coexistence with leopards and other carnivores could lead to competition or predation.
- Socio-political:
Displacement concerns: Local communities have expressed resistance to relocation or restrictions in land use.
Human-wildlife conflict: Fear of livestock depredation or restrictions on grazing have raised tensions.
- Logistical:
Translocation challenges: Importing cheetahs from Namibia/South Africa involves quarantine, health monitoring, and long-term acclimatization.
Monitoring and management: Real-time tracking, veterinary care, and patrolling demand sustained institutional and financial commitment.
While Project Cheetah is ambitious, its success depends on an integrated approach involving ecological restoration, community participation, and adaptive management. Strengthening prey bases, ensuring corridor connectivity, and aligning conservation with local livelihoods are essential to realize its long-term vision.
