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OP-ED NOVEMBER 11, 2022 | The Indian Eye 11

Why the cheetahs return

to India matters

The success of Project Tiger is a good example. While the tiger served to preserve

forest systems, it is hoped the cheetah will fill the gap for open forests and grasslands.

It could restore habitats and conserve biodiversity

SADHNA SHANKER

hey travelled by air more than
8000 km from Namibia in the
TAfrican continent to Kuno
National Park in India. The planet’s
fastest land animal, the cheetah is
identified as ‘vulnerable’ and only
about 8000 remain. Found mainly in
Africa, and a few in Iran. Cheetahs A Cheetah brought from Africa at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh (ANI Photo/ Narendra Modi Twitter)
once prowled India in large numbers.
They appear in ancient Hindu texts closure for some time on November the Cheetah also lies in the animal as CSR funds from the Indian Oil
and in cave paintings, and are woven 5,2022. Thereafter radio collared, being able to restore the balance of Corporation, a lot more rides on this
into centuries-old tapestries. Howev- they will first release the males, and the ecosystem. The success of Proj- project. The success of this project
er, by 1952 due to hunting, and loss of lastly the females into the Kuno Na- ect Tiger is a good example. While would create new avenues for em-
habitat they became extinct in India. tional Park in Madhya Pradesh. the tiger served to preserve forest ployment and tourism. More impor-
The cheetah is the only large mam- The Park is about 748 sq kms. systems, it is hoped the cheetah tantly, the project promises hope for
mal India had lost. The south-eastern portion of this will fill the gap for open forests and the survival of wild life species. Once
The arrival of the African chee- area is connected to Panna Tiger grasslands. It could restore habitats
tahs is special because it is the first Reserve and the Ranthambore Ti- and conserve biodiversity. the cheetahs adjust and thrive in their
new habitat it could be a new way of
time ever that such transnational ger Reserve is across the Chambal There are concerns about the looking at conservation of wild life –
relocation of a carnivore in the wild on the north-western side. Kuno was plan and survival of the animal in to consider the global population of
is being undertaken. Earlier, there chosen for its similarity in climate, this relocation. Some point out that a species rather than fragment them
have been instances of zoos exchang- rainfall and habitats to the private the African landscapes of large open into local numbers.
ing animals, but taking a free ranging preserves in southern Africa, where grasslands are not present in India. Migration of humans and ani-
predator from its natural habitat to about 500 cheetah live. Further, ‘chi- Further, the dietary habits of Afri- mals is an ancient practice. They both
another country is a first. After years tals’ or deers that are food for the can cheetahs that thrive on impalas try to adapt and adjust to the new ter-
of efforts and legal wrangles, the idea animal are plentiful. Also, roughly would need to change. Of the bigger rain because for all living beings the
has become reality. 24 villages and their domesticated animals in Kuno – wild boars and desire to survive is the strongest urge.
A batch of eight cheetahs, five livestock were completely relocat- antelopes – only calves and small-
females and three males between the ed from inside the Park some years er ones would work, as the cheetah Let us hope the African cheetahs sur-
vive in their new home, and soon our
ages of 2 and 5, selected in Namibia ago. This was done in preparation goes for smaller animals. The pres- landscape has many of the great cats
because of their hunting skills, famil- for bringing the lions from Gir, but ence of a leopard population, hyenas inhabiting it.
iarity with humans and genetic pro- that did not take off. The village sites and of neighboring tigers in Kuno is
files are now in India. After a month- and their agricultural fields have now also a risk factor. Sadhna Shanker is a writer based in
long quarantine, the animals are been taken over by grass. Apart from a central budget of New Delhi, India.
likely to be released into another en- The importance of bringing back Rs 916.5 million and Rs 50o million Email: [email protected]

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