Sajad Hameed | Srinagar
In a bid to revive a long-lost element of its biodiversity, India is gearing up to release six more cheetahs into the wild at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. This news, reported by The Indian Express, has sparked both anticipation and concerns among experts and conservationists.
The cheetahs, consisting of four males and two females, are currently housed in three separate hunting enclosures within the park. The decision to release them was made by the newly formed Cheetah Steering Committee during its inaugural meeting. This committee was established on May 26, following a distressing turn of events in which three out of the 20 cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia, along with three cubs born in India, tragically died in the park within a span of less than two months.
The fatalities have raised questions about India’s suitability as a habitat for African cheetahs and the effectiveness of the project in terms of grassland conservation. Some experts argue that India lacks the necessary prey species and ecosystems to support these majestic predators. However, Dr. Rajesh Gopal, head of the Cheetah Steering Committee, maintains that the deaths were a natural occurrence.
During a recent inspection, Dr. Gopal expressed satisfaction with the arrangements, management, and monitoring of the cheetahs in the park. “We went around their enclosures and even saw two cheetahs,” he informed The Indian Express. “They had killed a spotted deer. We spoke to the local officials in a long interaction about the details related to their security. We felt that this [the project] was going on the right track. No need for an alarm.”
In the face of skepticism and concerns raised by South African wildlife expert Vincent van der Merwe, who suggested fencing two to three habitats for cheetahs or relocating them outside the park, Dr. Gopal dismissed the idea. He argued that such measures would contradict the fundamental principles of wildlife conservation.
Meanwhile, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav acknowledged the government’s responsibility for the cheetah deaths. He emphasized that the project is international in scope and that mortality was anticipated. Yadav explained, “One of the cheetahs was unwell before it even came to India. We have provided the reasons for the deaths of the two other cheetahs.”
The cheetah reintroduction project in India holds great significance as the species was declared extinct in the country back in 1952. The last recorded sighting of cheetahs in India occurred in 1948 when three of these magnificent felines were shot in the Sal forests of Chhattisgarh’s Koriya District. The reintroduction initiative, initiated decades later, aims to restore the once-vanished cheetahs to their natural habitat.
In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed optimism about India’s chance to reclaim a lost element of its biodiversity through the reintroduction of cheetahs. However, as the project moves forward, it faces a myriad of challenges and controversies. The ability of the Indian landscape to support these African cheetahs, the measures to ensure their safety, and the scrutiny surrounding their reintroduction will play a crucial role in shaping the success and legacy of this ambitious conservation effort.
