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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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African cheetah, leopard and hyena will come to Kuno by March-April, the team came to apply caller ID
The roar of South African cheetahs was to be heard in the Kuno-Palpur National Park by November 2021, but severe floods in August slowed down the pace of construction of cheetah enclosures (with 8 feet of iron net). Omicron stopped the team going for the final deal to bring cheetahs in November. In such a situation, now the roar of African cheetahs will be heard in Kuno only in the month of March-April. Let us inform here that preparations are going on for cheetahs in Kuno-Palpur National Park since November 2020. Seeing the way preparations were going on for the arrival of cheetahs in the past, it was felt that by November 2021, the roar of cheetahs would be heard in Kuno. But due to the floods in the month of August, the Kuno river was in spate, along with breaking the roads at many places in the park, the ramp built on the river was also washed away. The management had made a temporary report along with making the way at its level. Inside the park, an 8-feet high fence has been built in an area of five square km. The upper body is followed by a 2.9 mm Y-shaped facing along with three levels of (3-3 and 2) core protection. Solar fencing system is provided at the outer end of the enclosure to prevent outside animals from entering. The important thing about the system is that whenever a wildlife or hunter touches it, it will get a shock of the current. This will not kill his life, But he will definitely be afraid to go near Solar Facing again. According to Kuno DFO, this work has been done 98 percent. Cheetah's roar will be heard in March-April According to Kuno DFO PK Verma, almost all the preparations to bring cheetahs to the park are in the final stages. The team going to Africa in November will now probably leave in the first week of February. While the second team will leave in the last week. According to the management, now there is every possibility of African cheetah coming to Kuno by March-April 2022. -Seeing Activities of Leopard and Hyena There are also large numbers of leopards and hyenas in Kuno Park. Experts from Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun have arrived in Kuno five days ago. The team will put a radio call to Leopard and Hyena to research how Leopard and Hyena are living in the park. You will know about their living habits and hunting by their movements, gestures. So that the cheetahs do not get any harm from the leopard, they will prepare such a strategy. The DFO says that after the arrival of African cheetahs, caller ID will be installed in them too. So that it can be known whether the cheetah has eaten food after hunting or not. Cheetals will come from Madhav Park to hunt for cheetahs According to Kuno DFO Verma, about 10 thousand cheetals will be brought to Kuno from Madhav National Park in Shivpuri for the food of African cheetahs. However, instead of bringing these cheetals together, they will be brought in 25 to 30 times as per the need. They will be released in the number of two to four in the cheetah enclosure. So that cheetahs can hunt cheetal when they are hungry and eat it. Although there are already more than 28 thousand cheetals in Kuno, but when the cheetahs get used to living in the environment here, 6 cheetahs will be released in the wild. With which he will be able to hunt cheetal, sambar etc. already present in Kuno. Male and female cheetahs will be kept in the shed for breeding. -748.7618 Sq. Kilometers is spread over Kuno Park Kuno Century came into existence in the year 1996. Its area was earlier 344.686 square kilometer. In September 2016, a proposal was sent to the MP government. In this, there was a demand to give the status of National Park to Kuno. After this the area of Kuno has been increased to 404.0758 square kilometer. That is, the area of Kuno was now 748.7618 square kilometers. The first flood and then the Omicron variant have become a hindrance in bringing African cheetahs to Kuno, but are making full preparations for the arrival of cheetahs in March-April 2022. In a month, the watch tower, CCTV cameras and other works will be completed completely. PK Verma, DFO, Kuno-Palpur National Park Sheopur Translated from google https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/...il-7215994
India is all set to get cheetah back in its jungles, 50 to arrive in next 5 years
NEW DELHI: The cheetah that became extinct in independent India is all set to return, said environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday when his ministry preparing to translocate the first batch of eight from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh soon after the situation linked to the current third wave of Covid-19 becomes normal, and total 50 in various parks over a period of five years. Yadav while unveiling an action plan for reintroduction of cheetah in the country at the 19th meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) noted that the plan was to reintroduce cheetah in 2021, but the Covid-19's second wave delayed it. India has plans to reintroduce cheetahs at the Kuno National Park in Sheopur and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior-Chambal region, 70 years after the animal was officially declared extinct in India, in what could be the world’s first inter-continental cheetah translocation project. The country will get 12 to 15 cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia by the end of this year. https://m.timesofindia.com/india/india-is-all-set-to-get-cheetah-back-in-its-jungles-50-to-arrive-in-next-5-years/articleshow/88718089.cms
Cheetahs Could Be Sighted In Rajasthan’s Shergarh Sanctuary Soon
India’s last cheetah died in Chhattisgarh in 1947 and after that it was declared extinct in the country in 1952. But now there’s a positive turn as cheetahs would be sighted soon in the country once again. There is a plan to introduce African cheetahs in the Baran district of Rajasthan. Naturally rich and famous for its Shergarh Sanctuary and Shahbad’s dense forests, Baran district is all set to become the home for cheetahs if everything goes as planned. A wildlife team recently visited the district to take stock of the situation. The team visited Shergarh Sanctuary and also the nearby Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. After survey, it was decided to release the cheetahs at Kuno Palpur first and work was started. It is expected that once they are released in Kuno Palpur, the cheetahs will also visit the nearby Shergarh Sanctuary. A large number of tourists visit Shergarh Sanctuary. The sanctuary, which is home to three leopards, is also considered a suitable place for cheetahs. The conditions here, such as grasslands, rivers etc., are favorable for the cheetah. Talking to Indian Masterminds, District Magistrate Rajendra Vijay said, “Shergarh area is very suitable for cheetah, and we have developed an eco-sensitive area for it. We believe that this is the best suitable place for a cheetah. That’s why wildlife people are working on it, and you may see African cheetahs here in the future. Apart from this, we have a lot of tourism potential here. Tribal tourism is very prominent as the Sahariya tribe lives here. Agro and eco tourismare also major thrust areas.” The sanctuary now has three leopards. One male and two females. Other than leopards, the sanctuary is also home to crocodile, jarak, fox, black deer, chinkara etc. A boundary wall was recently constructed for the protection of the wildlife. DFO V Chetan Kumar told Indian Masterminds: “A wildlife team had come to Shergarh as this area is considered very good for cheetahs. And this is the area adjacent to Kuno Palpur of MP. Presently the team has already started work in Kuno Palpur and the in future, African Cheetahs can be seen in Shergarh also. This initiative is still in the initial stage. Hopefully some good results will come out soon.” ECO SENSITIVE ZONE Talking to the media, ACF Anurag Bhatnagar said that the boundary of an eco-sensitive zone is being determined in the Shergarh Sanctuary. It will cover an area of about 332 sq km. It is expected that this will create avenues for employment by boosting tourism. PLAN TO INTRODUCE CHEETAH Recently,the Environment ministry unveiled its plan to introduce 50 cheetahs in Indian forests over the next five years. Cheetahs will be introduced in Indian forests 70 years after they went extinct. The Environment Minister showcased a plan for the introduction of Cheetah in India at the 19th meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. As per the action plan, a cohort of around 10-12 young cheetahs that are ideal for reintroduction shall be imported from Namibia or South Africa. Minister Bhupendra Singh said that the PM is very much interested in the protection and conservation of seven major big cats, including cheetah. The Supreme Court has also given its stamp of approval on the plan to introduce African cheetahs to suitable habitats in India on an experimental basis. https://indianmasterminds.com/features/beyond-headlines/cheetahs-could-be-sighted-in-rajasthans-shergarh-sanctuary-soon/
Once upon a time, Vidarbha was habitat of Cheetah
By Kartik Lokhande : King Martin’s account also mentioned that Cheetah ‘lived, bred, preyed on antelope and gazelle, trapped by villagers and upcountry rajas’ in 1892 in Akola district. Two or three Cheetahs were seen and one was shot in 1894 in Dhamangaon as per Burton’s account of 1920. The same year, one Cheetah was shot in Melghat forests. Later on, in 1896, two Cheetah cubs were found and reared in Berar (now Amravati Division), as per the account of Rodon (1897). Between 1903 and 1923, three cheetahs were ‘procured’ and cheetahs were ‘negligible in number’ in Central Provinces (comprising Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh), states the latest report citing the account of Dunbar Brander (1923). In 1912, one Cheetah was reported in Buldana district, with its mate ‘believed trapped by Pardhis’ and ‘only tracks seen’. Interestingly, Cheetah was present in Nagpur and Yavatmal districts too of Vidarbha. The latest report cites a June 1916 record of ‘IOL Agriculture and Forests’ mention of ‘permission to trap Cheetah for Nizam, Hyderabad’. However, details are not available as ‘The file is missing in the National Archives of India’. There are other mentions of presence of Cheetahs in Central provinces in 1919 and 1920 too. The latest report cautions that Cheetah’s story in Asia ‘may well be ending’, ‘unless they are reintroduced into India from Africa’. It tries to look into the causes of disappearance of Cheetah from Indian landscape. According to the report, Cheetahs in their most preferred habitat such as grasslands and semi-arid tracts of Kathiawar (Saurashtra, Gujarat) and elsewhere ‘came under severe pressure earlier than those found on the edges of forests, including sal forests and grassy glades within them in Central India’.
“During this period, Cheetahs were subjected to their being taken from the wild for coursing blackbuck by Pardhi tribals and others for their princely patrons. That apart, they were also being targeted by British and Indian ‘sportsmen’,” the report adds. It quotes Prof Mahesh Rangarajan’s research pointing out that the administrative policy of British India “played a major role in its extinction”. The British government of the time ‘gave rewards for destruction of not only adult Cheetahs, but also for their cubs from about 1871 onwards’.
Cheetah can be reintroduced in Vid, but consider ecological history’ Kaustubh Pandharipande, Director, Foundation for Economic and Ecological Development, has conducted an in-depth study of the grasslands of Vidarbha region. According to him, Cheetah can be reintroduced in Vidarbha but the ecological history of the region has to be taken into account. “Particularly the western part of Vidarbha region had good grasslands long ago. These grasslands were an important part of the region’s ecology and formed the habitat for Cheetah, Lesser Florican, Great Indian Bustard etc,” Pandharipande told ‘The Hitavada’. However, the British treated those as wastelands. For, they considered grasslands as of no use for revenue-earning purposes. Gradually, these grasslands were put to revenue-yielding use and were converted into agricultural lands. In years that followed, Vidarbha became a ‘cotton belt’. “However, the adverse impact on grasslands also led to disappearance of Cheetahs and other species from this region,” he added. As far as present situation is concerned, Pandharipande said, Cheetah can be reintroduced in Vidarbha region. “For the purpose, Forest Department will have to factor in ecological history of the region, conduct deeper study of habitat, and rope in all stakeholders including local communities. Else, reintroduction without attention to details may just lead to man-animal conflict particularly in western Vidarbha,” he observed.
Blackbucks to be settled in Kuno with African cheetahs
Along with African cheetahs, rare species of black deer will also live in Kuno National Park in Sheopur. The forest department will transport these deer from Ashoknagar to Kuno. Earlier, the blackbuck census is being started in Ashoknagar district. This calculation can start in three to four days, after which deer will be caught by Boma technique when the crop is harvested from the fields. However, there are no cheetahs in Kuno yet. Blackbuck is a Schedule Forest category of wildlife and is a rare species of deer. In Ashoknagar their number is close to four thousand. These deer prefer to live in the open field than in the mountains and forests. That's why herds of deer keep roaming in the fields here. These cause damage to the crop. Since there is open ground in Kuno. Along with the African cheetahs that come there, other wildlife are also being settled, So that they can get natural environment. For this, sambar is being sent from Shivpuri. In such a situation, in view of the problems of the farmers here, the Ashoknagar Forest Department has also made preparations to send black deer to Kuno, due to which the black deer will get a new home and the problem of the farmers will also end to a great extent. The deer of the spraybox species are found in Africa Dr. Ankit Pandey, DFO of the Forest Department has also discussed with the Chief Conservator of Forests in this regard. DFO Dr. Pandey told that springbox species of antelope are found in Africa. Black deer is also one of these species. Therefore, African cheetahs will be able to live easily with them. Blackbuck will also get better protection in Kuno. However, it is not yet certain how many blackbucks will be sent. The DFO says that as many deer can go easily, they will send as many deer. Deer will be caught by Boma technique The Boma technique will be used by the forest department to catch the black buck. In this technique, animals are first brought over a large area, then they siege them here. The animal is given a place to leave, grass is put there and the vehicle or cage in which it is taken is kept, so that it can reach it on its own. To get the natural environment to carry the deer, so grass etc. will be kept in the cart. Blackbucks from the district will be sent to live with African cheetahs in Kuno. I have already spoken to CCF sir in this regard. To catch these deer will use Boma technique. They will be caught when the crop is harvested and the fields are empty. -Doctor. Ankit Pandey, DFO Ashoknagar Blackbucks need a farm-like environment to live in. There is a plan to shift blackbucks from Ashoknagar to Kuno. It will be sent to the government for approval. https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/...ws-7254863
Kuno
 atch towers are installed to keep an eye on African cheetahs, if you touch the fencing, you will get a shock of 7000 voltsThe preparations for the settlement of African cheetahs in Kuno Palpur National Park are almost complete. The work on the outer surface of the enclosure for the settlement of African cheetahs in 500 hectares of forest area has been completed. The work of the interface i.e. the inner enclosure has also been almost completed. Now the velvet grass of cheetahs is to be laid and five partitions are to be made in it. The work of making them has started, out of which 2 partitions have been completed. For security, 3 watch towers and four high definition cameras have been installed. According to Kuno DFO PK Verma, solar fencing system has been installed at the outer end of the enclosure so that no outside animals can enter the living area of cheetahs. Its special thing is that whenever any wildlife or outsider tries to touch it, it will get a shock of 7 thousand volts of current. However, this current will not kill him. This solar fencing system was also tested by Professor IV Jhala of WII (Wild Life Institute of India) by reaching Kuno recently. The plan is to bring 10 to 12 African cheetahs. But due to Corona, the work of bringing cheetahs is in limbo. Photos of this special enclosure for African cheetahs have been provided by Kuno DFO PK Verma for Dainik Bhaskar. https://www.bhaskar.com/local/mp/gwalior...7Hp0tGXdnk
Cheetahs will be monitored by drone in Kuno-Palpur National Park of Sheopur district
In the Kuno-Palpur National Park, two drone cameras will be monitored from the sky over an area of four km of enclosures made for African cheetahs. This will make it easier to protect the cheetahs. Four high definition cameras have been installed in the park. The special thing about the Moson detector in these is that as soon as the wildlife or predator comes in the JD of the camera, it will automatically zoom it, which will make it easy to identify. Monitoring room for CCTV cameras installed in the park is also being set up at Kuno office in Sheopur. With the cameras, officers and employees will be able to keep an eye on African cheetahs every moment. In the Kuno-Palpur National Park, an eight-feet high enclosure has been made for cheetahs in an area of five square km. The upper body is followed by a 2.9 mm Y-shaped facing along with three levels of (3-3 and 2) core protection. Solar fencing system is provided at the outer end of the enclosure to prevent outside animals from entering. The important thing about the system is that whenever any wildlife or hunter touches it, it will get a shock of strong current. This will not kill him, but he will definitely be afraid to go near the solar fencing again. The enclosure made for the cheetahs to be brought here and the area of four km around it will be monitored by drones. NTCA has sought information on many points Before the arrival of African cheetahs, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has sought a security plan from the Kuno management. What kind of victims are there in this plan in Kuno. What weapons do hunters use? Which way does he come to the park? Where and how do you hunt wildlife and birds? Which community do people hunt? How many victims, how many people came illegally in the park this year and how many people have been punished. Management has told that in one year four cases of poaching have been made. The hunters use the Bharbar gun i.e. the caped gun. Six cases of illegal entry and about 70 cases of illegal timber harvesting have been registered. they say All the preparations are done from our side for the cheetahs in Kuno Park. Security plan has been sent to NTCA. Two drone cameras have also been ordered. Also, with the cameras installed in the park, we will be able to keep surveillance even while sitting in the office. Along with the watch tower in the middle of the cheetah enclosure, towers have also been installed for the Internet. Four high definition cameras have been installed on these towers to keep an eye on the enclosure. https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/...ct-7258208
Leopards will be removed from the cheetah enclosure in Kuno in Sheapur, know what
Preparations for African cheetahs in Kuno-Palpur National Park have gained momentum. Management is assuming cheetahs to arrive in early April. Preparations have started to exclude the big animals bull, cow, buffalo, male nilgai, besides the deadly animals leopard and hyena living in five enclosures made for cheetahs. Officials say that the method of trap cage (goat etc. is caught by tying it in a cage) will be adopted to oust Happard. In the Kuno-Palpur National Park, an 8-feet-high enclosure has been made for cheetahs in an area of five square km. The upper body is followed by a 2.9 mm Y-shaped facing along with three levels of (3-3 and 2) core protection. To prevent outside animals from entering, solar fencing system is provided at the outer end of the enclosure, so that animal will definitely be afraid to go near the solar facing again due to fear of current. According to Kuno DFO PK Verma, a large number of bears including bulls, cows, nilgai, leopards and hyenas have also been seen in CCTV cameras and drone searches installed in five enclosures made for cheetahs. Cheetah can reduce the prey of large animals bull, cow and male nilgai. There is a danger to the cheetahs while hunting them. So they will be taken out of the enclosure. Cage for Leopard: According to DFO Verma, about 4 to 5 leopards and hyenas have also been seen in the enclosures. To get these animals out, the team will search by opening the main gate of the enclosure, from which most of the wildlife will come out. Whereas a cage will be set up for Leopard. They will be taken out of the enclosure after being imprisoned in a cage. All the preparations are done from our side for the arrival of the cheetah in Kuno Park. Preparing to take out the big and dangerous animals in the enclosure. The cheetahs will release small wildlife including wild boar, sambar, chital inside the hunt. Translated from google https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/sheopur-leopards-will-be-removed-from-the-cheetah-enclosure-in-kuno-in-sheopur-know-what-7276121?fbclid=IwAR18t0pIuf55g97fII3lzIAS4vAzF7DR6yh8MkeHkOJOgG_raX1-aSVcQlI
Indian Govt To Bring Cheetahs Back, Funds Sanctioned
The Indian government is holding consultative meetings with African countries to bring cheetahs to India. According to the action plan prepared for this, 12-14 cheetahs will be brought to India from South Africa / Namibia / other African countries in five years. Satellite / GSM-GPS-VHF radio collars will be installed before the cheetahs are brought to India so that their movements can be monitored remotely, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change said in Lok Sabha. New cheetah population to be established Approximately 12-14 healthy wild leopards (8-10 males and 4-6 females) reproductive age group that is genetically diverse, disease-free, behaviorally sound-e.g. not overly imprinted to humans but tolerant, predator wary, capable of hunting wild prey, and socially tolerant of each other), The leopards will be brought in from South Africa / Namibia / other African countries in five years and beyond. Cheetah was declared extinct in 1952 The cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952. Cheetahs were hunted into extinction during and after the Mughal Period, Rajput and Maratha Indian royalty and later by the British Raj, until the early 20th century when only several thousand remained. At present, there are no leopards in any of India’s national parks or wildlife sanctuaries. Three of the last Asiatic cheetahs recorded from India were shot down in 1948, by Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya The only large carnivore to become extinct The cheetah is the only large carnivore to become extinct in independent India. There are no cheetahs left in the wild in India, so they have to be brought from abroad to bring them to India. The cheetah has been an integral part of the Indian ecosystem, a major evolutionary force and an important cultural heritage. Their restoration will likely lead to better conservation of open forest, grassland and scrub ecosystems, for which they serve as a key species. Fund allocated for the project 38.70 crore has been allocated under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Tiger Project for Cheetah Introduction Project for the year 2021-22 to 2025-26. Sites Allocation for Cheetah’s Relocation Amongst the 10 surveyed sites of the central Indian states, Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh has been rated the highest. This is because of its suitable habitat and adequate prey base. Kuno Palpur National Park is 748 sq. km. in area, devoid of human settlements, forms part of Sheopur-Shivpuri deciduous open forest landscape and is estimated to have a capacity to sustain 21 cheetahs. Kuno is probably the only wildlife site in the country where there has been a complete relocation of villages from inside the park. Kuno also offers the prospect of housing four big cats of India – tiger, lion, leopard and cheetah – and allowing them to coexist as in the past. The other sites recommended for holding and conservation breeding of cheetah in India, in controlled wild conditions are:
Baran in the assembly:Shergarh Sanctuary is less in area, so additional forest land will be included, only after that action will be taken to settle cheetah
Baran-Atru MLA Panachand Meghwal raised a matter in the House regarding the slow pace of various wildlife projects of Hadoti. MLA Meghwal asked the government the reason for the delay in developing the Ramgarh Poisoned Sanctuary as tourism by settling tigers. Along with this demanded the settlement of Cheetah in Shergarh of Baran. He demanded from the government to take administrative control of Shergarh Sanctuary in Baran. On which the Forest Minister said that under the provisions of Section 38 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 on behalf of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi, on July 5, 2021, Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent areas will be declared Tiger Reserve. In-principle approval has been given to make. Under this, an expert committee was constituted by the state government to determine the critical tiger habitat (core) and buffer area of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve. The report for determination of core (CTH) and buffer area of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve Bundi has been submitted to the state government on January 24. After examining the report of the committee, soon further action is being taken by the state government under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The minister said that panthers are found naturally in Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary. There is currently no plan to shift tigers and cheetahs here. Rather, the scientists of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun had made a preliminary observation of Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary with a view to take stock of the possibilities of release of Cheetah in Wildlife Sanctuary Shergarh. Thereafter the report is prepared and submitted. Due to the small area of Shergarh sanctuary in the report, this sanctuary can be suitable for making 3-4 units of cheetah only after including the adjoining additional forest area, fencing all around, displacing village Surpa outside etc. Is. Action is being taken regarding this, in this regard, NTCA has been informed through a letter issued on December 7 that in the first phase, action is being taken to settle cheetah in Madhya Pradesh. In respect of other places, action will be taken at a later stage. https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/kota/baran/news/shergarh-sanctuary-is-less-in-area-so-additional-forest-land-will-be-included-only-after-that-action-will-be-taken-to-settle-cheetah-129391393.html?fbclid=IwAR01_sZFc7J1dIguZZFdeB9AFAS0gFON_VoC31qZzLiftbJ4ujWQ7A4aCCs
Madhya Pradesh forest officials will go to South Africa to learn how to take care of cheetah
In view of the improvement in the situation of corona infection in the country, work has started again on the project of bringing cheetah from South Africa. Now officials of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun, including Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh Jasvir Singh Chauhan, are going to South Africa on February 17. These officers will stay there till February 23 and will decide when, how many, how and through what means the cheetahs will come to the country. Cheetah is planned to be settled in Kuno Palpur National Park located in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. The government had set a target of bringing cheetah by November 2021, but the process has been delayed due to corona infection. In fact, the forest officials of the country and the state were to go to South Africa in October 2021 to formulate a strategy to bring cheetah, but at the last moment the name of the Union Forest Minister was included in this list. When the list reached the Prime Minister's Office, questions arose on the propriety of the visit of the Forest Minister. Due to this the journey was stopped. A fresh list was released in November 2021, removing the name of the Forest Minister, ie the officials were to go to South Africa in December 2021, but the third wave of corona started and the journey was stopped again. Now the journey has been decided for the third time. After this visit of the officials, the field officers of Kuno Palpur National Park i.e. operator, ranger, doctor and two forest personnel will go on the journey. They will take training in the living and treatment of cheetah there. https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/...ah-7293010
India delegation heads to Namibia to discuss cheetah translocation
A delegation from India left for Namibia on Thursday to discuss cheetah translocation logistics with the Namibia government, according to people familiar with the development. The team, with representatives from National Tiger Conservation Authority, environment ministry, Wildlife Institute of India, and the Madhya Pradesh government, will be identifying suitable cheetahs to begin the process of health screening and putting them under quarantine for travel to India. The cheetahs will be translocated eventually to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. “We cannot say how long this process will take. We need to work out the logistics first,” said a senior official of NTCA, who asked not to be named. “The goal of the project is to establish a viable cheetah metapopulation in India that allows the cheetah to perform its functional role as a top predator and to provide space for the expansion of the cheetah within its historical range thereby contributing to its global conservation efforts,” a note shared by NTCA said. Environment minister, Bhupender Yadav is also likely to participate in the discussions when he visits Africa in March, a second official added. “An expert team is leaving for Namibia this morning to finalise modalities for the translocation of 8-10 cheetahs to the Kuno National Park in MP. An initiative launched in 2010 is finally coming into fruition. I wish them the very best!” tweeted Jairam Ramesh, Congress leader and former environment minister, during whose stint the plan was hatched. “As is obvious the introduction of the cheetah is not only a species recovery program but an effort to restore ecosystems with a lost element that has played a significant role in their evolutionary history, allow ecosystems to provide services to their full potential, and use the cheetah as an umbrella species for conserving the biodiversity of grasslands, savanna and open forest systems,” the NTCA note added. Some experts have been critical of the cheetah reintroduction project because it deprives lions of a suitable habitat. “Introduction of African cheetahs to Kuno National Park will further delay the translocation of the Asiatic lion resulting in increased risks for the last surviving wild population of lions in Asia. Crores of rupees have been spent by the Government of India and the State of Madhya Pradesh for preparing Kuno to play host to the lions. Nine years since the 2013 SC order on lion translocation to Kuno, the lions have not yet been translocated and the plans to introduce African cheetahs have not ceased. The Expert Committee appointed by the Supreme Court in 2013 to advise the government on lion translocation, of which I am a member, hasn’t met since December 2016. In our last meeting in Kuno, everyone, apart from the representatives of the Gujarat State government, strongly stated that Kuno was ready to receive the lions. But neither the Union government nor the State government of Gujarat have taken any tangible action to translocate the lions,” said Ravi Chellam, CEO, Metastring Foundation and a member of the Biodiversity Collaborative. According to the “Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India” released by the environment ministry during the 19th meeting of National Tiger Conservation Authority last month, a cohort of around 12-14 cheetahs will be imported from South Africa or Namibia and each of them will be fitted with a satellite-GPS-very high frequency radio-collar. Union environment minister Yadav, in a statement on January 5 said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on protection and conservation of seven major big cats... Cheetah numbering 50 over a period of five years will be introduced in various parks.” International transportation will be done by either a commercial airline or by a chartered flight following which the wild cats will be transported to Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh. Officials who attended the meeting said the cheetah, the world’s fastest land animal, was expected to be reintroduced into the country in November 2021 but the plan got derailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The animals’ lineage and condition shall be checked in the host country to ensure that they are not from an excessively inbred stock and are in the ideal age group, so as to conform to the needs of a founding population,” said the over 300-page plan. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-delegation-heads-to-namibia-to-discuss-cheetah-translocation-101645122447587.html
Cheetahs are back! MP's Kuno Park new home to big cats from Africa soon
Cheetahs, the world's fastest mammals are set to return to India. Madhya Pradesh will be the first state in the country to introduce the wild cats in the few weeks. The move comes 74 years the last cheetah was killed in the country. A team of senior Madhya Pradesh government officials led by principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) JS Chouhan is camping in South Africa and Namibia. After returning home on February 25, the team will submit its report to the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. The Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Sheopur will be home to the batch of 12-15 cheetahs who will be brought here soon. Situated at a distance of 125 kilometres from the Gwalior airport, the 344 square kilometre long national park was recommended one of the three sites in India in 1992. The Supreme Court in 2020 had given the nod to introduce African cheetahs in India on an experimental basis in a habitat which could be clearly monitored to check if the big cat could adapt to the conditions in India. The Wildlife Institute of India in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India had recommended Kuno Palpur and two other sites for introducing cheetahs after assessment in 2010. Initially, the plan was to develop Kuno Palpur as the second home of lion. The original plan in 1996-97 was to relocate lions from Gujrat's Gir under a ₹640 crore project. The Madhya Pradesh government had successfully shifted 24 villages comprising 1545 families to reduce biotic pressure. As per the International Union of Conservation of Nature, the Asiatic Cheetahs have been classified as critically endangered. Their population is really small and are now found in Iran. https://www.hindustantimes.com/environment/cheetahs-are-back-mp-s-kuno-park-new-home-to-big-cats-from-africa-soon-101645709738507.html
Cheetahs coming to India may be further delayed
New Delhi, Feb 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Even as the Indian team that went to Namibia for initiating the process for bringing cheetahs to India has returned, it may still be months before the African wild cat whose Indian counterpart has been extinct since last seven decades can be introduced. It was February 17, after a delay of over two years, a five member Indian team had travelled to Namibia to bring cheetahs to India for relocating them to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park. The team comprised one officer each from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change headquarters in Delhi, the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife Institute of India, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, and the Madhya Pradesh government. One of the members, WII's Dr Y.V. Jhala, said the trip report would be filed in a day or two by the NTCA Director. The team visited locations to see over five dozen cheetahs. Asked about the timeline when the cheetahs are expected to land, Jhala said, it is uncertain and may take months. "The governments of India and Namibia have initiated the process of signing an MoU for the cheetah translocation. But there needs to be a lot of legal whetting done and that may take some time before the actual MoU is signed," he said. A total of 12-14 cheetahs are intended to be brought from South Africa/Namibia/other African countries over a period of five years as per the Action Plan. It would include about 8-10 wild males cheetahs and 4-6 wild females. Brainchild of former Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh, the project was originally planned and launched in 2010. The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952; currently there are no cheetahs in any national park or wildlife sanctuary in India. Cheetah is the only large carnivore to have become extinct in independent India. https://www.socialnews.xyz/2022/02/25/cheetahs-coming-to-india-may-be-further-delayed/ |
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