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+--- Thread: Cheetah Reintroduction in India (/topic-cheetah-reintroduction-in-india)
RE: Cheetah Reintroduction in India - Ovie11 - 09-21-2024
Here’s the the report update on the project
https://wii.gov.in/images//images/documents/publications/cheetah_annual_progress_report_2023_24.pdf
RE: Cheetah Reintroduction in India - Ovie11 - 11-25-2024
Kuno National Park Celebrates New Life As Nirvah Gives Birth To Cubs
In a major breakthrough for India’s Cheetah Reintroduction Project, Nirvah, a female cheetah at Sheopur’s Kuno National Park, has delivered her cubs. This development marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to reintroduce cheetahs to their natural habitat, say officials.
The exact number of cubs is not known yet.
Nirvah, one of the cheetahs relocated from South Africa in 2022, had been showing definitive signs of pregnancy in recent weeks. Wildlife officials had been closely monitoring her condition, especially after earlier hopes surrounding Veera, another female cheetah, turned out to be a false alert.
The birth of Nirvah’s cubs brings renewed optimism to the project, which has been under the global spotlight, say officials.
Kuno National Park is now home to 24 cheetahs, including 12 cubs born within the park.
Officers say that this achievement is the success of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious initiative to reintroduce the species, which was declared extinct in India in 1952.
While Veera’s pregnancy had initially sparked excitement, further examinations confirmed it to be a false alarm. Despite this setback, “Nirvah’s successful delivery has reaffirmed the park’s potential as a breeding ground for the reintroduced cheetahs” said an officer.
Officials at Kuno have expressed their joy and commitment to ensuring the survival and well-being of the newborn cubs.
“This development is seen as a crucial step toward establishing a sustainable cheetah population in India, paving the way for the revival of the species in its historic range” said an officer at the wildlife headquarters.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kuno-national-park-celebrates-new-life-as-nirvah-gives-birth-to-cubs/amp_articleshow/115647751.cms
RE: Cheetah Reintroduction in India - Ovie11 - 12-04-2024
India Celebrates International Cheetah Day With The Release Of Two Male Cheetahs Into The Wild
Two male cheetahs, Agni and Vayu, were released into the wild at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh on International Cheetah Day on Wednesday.
The release took place in the Palpur East area, located across the Kuno River, marking a significant milestone in India’s ambitious cheetah reintroduction project. These efforts aim to restore the cheetah population, which has been extinct in the country for nearly 70 years, and to enhance the biodiversity of the region.
A steering committee, headed by Chairman Rajesh Gopal, had visited Kuno a day earlier, on December 3rd, to review the final preparations for the release. The team ensured that all logistical, safety, and security measures were in place to facilitate the smooth transition of Agni and Vayu into their new environment.
After spending time in large enclosures at Kuno National Park, the cheetahs were ready for their release into the open forest, where they will be free to roam, hunt, and utilize their renowned speed and agility. Following the release of Agni and Vayu, additional cheetahs will be introduced gradually over the coming months. The park officials will closely monitor their progress to ensure the cheetahs adapt well to the wild.
Kuno National Park has been fully prepared to support the cheetahs in their new habitat, with the area secured to protect them from potential threats. The release also offers a unique opportunity for tourists to see these majestic creatures in their natural surroundings. Unlike previous releases, where cheetahs were only visible from a distance, the open forest setting at Kuno will provide closer, yet controlled, encounters, enhancing the experience for wildlife enthusiasts.
Currently, Kuno National Park is home to 12 adult cheetahs and 12 cubs, bringing the total cheetah population to 24. This is a promising step forward in the cheetah reintroduction program, which began with the translocation of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, supported by the Indian government and wildlife experts.
httphttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-celebrates-international-cheetah-day-with-the-release-of-two-male-cheetahs-into-the-wild/amp_articleshow/115969072.cms
RE: Cheetah Reintroduction in India - Ovie11 - 12-07-2024
Here’s the action plan report on second reintroduction site for cheetah reintroduction in
https://ntca.gov.in/assets/uploads/Reports/Others/GWLS_Cheetah_Action_PLan_2024_Low_Res.pdf
RE: Cheetah Reintroduction in India - Ovie11 - 12-18-2024
From evaluating lineages to relocating leopards: The action plan for Madhya Pradesh’ next home of the cheetah
Spread across 2,500 sq. km landscape straddling Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary’s mix of grasslands, dry deciduous forests, and riverine evergreen patches is meant to offer an ideal habitat for the cheetahs to thrive.
ANALYSING THE lineage of cheetahs to “create a strong genetic foundation”, relocating leopards from the predator-proof fenced areas, and augmenting the number of prey animals are part of the Cheetah Action Plan for Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, ahead of the plans to introduce a batch of cheetahs there next year, The Indian Express has learnt.
Spread across 2,500 sq. km landscape straddling Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary’s mix of grasslands, dry deciduous forests, and riverine evergreen patches is meant to offer an ideal habitat for the cheetahs to thrive.
According to an action plan devised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the MP wildlife department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), 6-8 cheetahs will be released into a 64 sq km predator-proof enclosure within the sanctuary’s West Range in the initial phase.
This area, characterised by savannah grasslands, supports an “adequate” prey base, with chinkara populations reaching 7.4 individuals/sq m and nilgai at 4.4 individuals/sq km. The sanctuary’s other prey species include chital, wild pig, peafowl, and hare, although their densities are significantly lower.
According to the action plan, the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary currently has a capacity of 10 cheetahs. “In order to sustain 6-8 cheetahs inside the predator proof fenced area, annual requirement is 1,560-2,080 prey animals per annum or 26-35 prey animals per sq km. The current prey availability inside the fenced area is 475 animals and is being augmented with 1,500 prey animals such as chital, blackbuck and nilgai,” the action plan states.
However, the sanctuary’s robust leopard population presents a formidable challenge. According to the plan, the sanctuary has an estimated population of 70 leopards in the West Range, and they pose a significant threat to cheetahs, particularly cubs and juveniles, and compete for similar prey.
To mitigate this risk, all “leopards within the fenced area will be captured and relocated before the cheetahs are brought to Gandhi Sagar WLS”, according to the action plan.
“Cheetahs and leopards may sometimes get involved in inter-specific strife resulting in injuries and even deaths. However, that would be a natural process and management by appropriate supplementation and recruitment from the introduced population would compensate for these. All the leopards within the predator proof fenced area will be captured and relocated before the cheetahs are brought to Gandhi Sagar WLS,” it says.
According to the action plan, this translocation effort is not a one-time activity but part of a “decade-long strategy to stabilise the cheetah population”.
“In addition, at least 10 leopards will be fitted with GPS collars to monitor their movements and interactions with other carnivores as part of a comprehensive research programme,” it states.
This research aims to shed light on “resource separation amongst carnivore communities”, which include hyenas, wolves, jackals, and sloth bears, the plan says. A network of 200 infrared camera traps will be deployed to monitor these populations, while scat analysis will provide insights into dietary preferences.
“This data will inform future management strategies, with the ultimate goal of promoting coexistence between leopards and cheetahs. The sanctuary’s prey base will also be closely monitored through distance sampling and camera-trap surveys, ensuring sufficient food availability for both cheetahs and other carnivores,” the action plan says.
A senior wildlife official says the translocation of leopards “is a crucial step in creating a safer environment” for cheetahs. “The competition with the stronger, more adaptable leopards could jeopardise the fragile population of the newly introduced predators,” the official says.
Here’s what the action plan says:
*A population of 12-14 wild cheetahs, including 8-10 males and 4-6 females, would be imported from suitable parks or reserves in African countries to establish a new cheetah population in India. These cheetahs would be selected from a “genetically diverse, disease-free, and reproductively viable age group”. Behavioural suitability — such as being predator-wary, capable of hunting wild prey, and socially tolerant — would also be critical. The selection criteria would ensure minimal human imprinting while maintaining tolerance to human presence.
*To create a strong genetic foundation, the cheetahs’ lineage and conditions would be evaluated in the source country to “avoid excessive inbreeding”. Individuals would be chosen based on “known life histories and lineages monitored by supplying agencies, experts, or donors”. These selections would consider ecological factors like “genetic relatedness, social behaviour, and overall compatibility with the population’s needs”.
*Genetic analysis of the cheetahs would be carried out using “micro-satellite and genomic” techniques, on all founder individuals to “establish a wide gene pool”.
“This would be done to track genetic diversity and identify any signs of inbreeding. This data would guide the active management of the population, including the introduction of new individuals from other cheetah populations in India or additional imports from Africa as needed,” the official quoted earlier says.
*The cheetahs will be monitored with the help of individual identification where a computer database containing “profiles of individually identified cheetahs would be maintained by the research team and NTCA”, the action plan says. This database would be analysed to “study cheetah demography and population dynamics”.
“Individual profiles of all the cheetahs of Gandhi Sagar would be maintained by the research team as well as by the park management so as to monitor cheetah survival and other vital rates,” the plan says.
* Introducing cheetahs into Gandhi Sagar is expected to trigger ecological ripple effects, influencing prey species behaviour and habitat use. To anticipate and mitigate these impacts, key prey species such as blackbuck, chital, and nilgai may be supplemented as needed.
* Radio-collaring prey animals will provide additional data on how they adapt to the presence of a new predator. The fenced area “would be fostered as a cheetah source area to supplement populations of cheetah in areas outside after habitat restoration”.
Gandhi Sagar’s restoration is envisioned as part of a broader cheetah conservation initiative, with Rajasthan’s Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve also identified as potential sites for population expansion. These areas, like Gandhi Sagar, will undergo extensive habitat restoration and prey augmentation to support sustainable cheetah populations.
There are currently 24 cheetahs, including 12 cubs, at Kuno National Park. After spending over a year inside protective enclosures, two cheetahs — Agni and Vayu — were released into the open forest area.
The Kuno action plan had envisaged free-ranging cheetahs that would be able to survive in the wild with leopards and other co-predators. But cheetahs had to be brought to the enclosures on August 13, 2023, after three adults “died due to septicaemia”.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/from-evaluating-lineages-to-relocating-leopards-the-action-plan-for-madhya-pradesh-next-home-of-the-cheetah-9730767/lite/
RE: Cheetah Reintroduction in India - TheHyenid76 - 12-18-2024
@Ovie11 deserves a ton of credit for constantly updating this thread with the latest news regarding the reintroduction. Thank you!
On the topic, I genuinely think this whole project was/is a PR stunt. India has high levels of human-wildlife conflict and literally thousands of obstacles regarding their biodiversity. Corruption related to wildlife preservation is a bigger issue to tackle.
RE: Cheetah Reintroduction in India - Ovie11 - 12-21-2024
Cheetah project in Gujarat faces setback due to incessant rainfall
Incessant rainfall in Kutch this year has delayed the establishment of a ₹20-crore cheetah conservation breeding centre in the Banni grasslands, a project sanctioned by the Centre, said officials on Saturday.
“The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) did not set a specific deadline for the project, but the Gujarat government had aimed to complete it by December. However, due to the delays caused by the heavy rains, the project is now expected to be finished by March or April next year,” said a senior Gujarat forest official, who requested anonymity.
He added that the Centre had already released ₹3 crore for the project.
Kutch district, which houses the Banni grasslands, witnessed exceptional rainfall this year, receiving 185% of its seasonal average by August 2024. The heavy downpours, which caused widespread flooding, disrupted the groundwork for this crucial conservation project, forcing authorities to reassess their implementation strategy in the region.
Earlier this year, the central zoo authority (CZA) approved the establishment of a cheetah conservation breeding centre in the Banni grasslands to facilitate the reintroduction of cheetahs to Gujarat after decades.
The centre is designed to house 16 cheetahs, furthering India’s wildlife conservation efforts, said officials.
The Gujarat forest department has set up a 500-hectare enclosure in Banni, Kutch, for the breeding centre. The project includes the construction of fencing, habitat redevelopment, and the establishment of a hospital.
“We have built a hospital, an administrative unit, and a quarantine unit. Additionally, we have designated 70-80 hectares of Buma, a controlled and enclosed area within the breeding centre, for the soft release of cheetahs. This area will help the cheetahs transition gradually from the quarantine unit to the larger breeding enclosure, allowing them to adapt to their new environment,” said Sandeep Kumar, chief conservator of forest (CCF), Kutch territorial forest circle.
Banni was chosen from ten potential sites identified in 2009 for cheetah reintroduction due to its savannah-like habitat, which resembles east African landscapes. The region also features Pilu trees (Salvadora persica), providing suitable perching spots. Historically, cheetahs were present in the area, with records of cheetah hunting in Saurashtra and Dahod until 1921 and references to their presence in Gujarat until the early 1940s, said officials.
To support the cheetahs, the forest department has improved about 14,000 hectares of grasslands at Banni and introduced a chinkara (gazella) breeding program to bolster the prey base.
“So far, 40 chinkaras have been released in phases to establish the prey base. These animals, sourced from the Rampara Wildlife Sanctuary, were introduced in batches of 20, 10, and 10, with the final phase completed recently. Next, the forest department aims to introduce blackbucks,” said Kumar.
HT sought a comment from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEF&CC) regarding the delay in the project and is awaiting a response.
In December 2023, a proposal initiated by the Gujarat government and submitted to the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Authority (National CAMPA) was approved by the executive committee of National CAMPA.
The Banni grasslands, along with the Kutch Desert Sanctuary, cover approximately 5,000 km² in the Kutch district of north-western Gujarat. The area lies south of the Rann of Kutch mudflats, and parts of it get inundated by seawater during the rainy season.
The centre will introduce cheetahs either from Namibia or South Africa, including Kenya, with an equal mix of males and females, said another government official aware of the matter.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cheetah-project-in-gujarat-faces-setback-due-to-incessant-rainfall-101734778673291-amp.html