Cheetah Reintroduction in India

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 Cheetah project in pause mode due to South Africa violence 


BHOPAL: A spate of riots and violence in South Africa has slowed down the process of translocating cheetahs to India, but officials of Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh - their proposed new home - are going ahead with their preparations and have even got help from a rather unlikely ally. Surrendered dacoits like Ramesh Singh Sikarwar have promised help to the forest department in tackling poachers and convincing villagers in favour of the project that the world will be watching.  

It's, after all, the world's first inter-continent Cheetah translocation. 

The MP government hoped to receive the 12 cheetahs in November this year, but the project is going through a pause phase due to the situation in South Africa. A team of wildlife experts from India that was expected to visit South Africa and Namibia has been asked to withhold their journey due to the recent violence there.

"Businesses owned by Indians and Indian-origin South Africans were targeted during the violence which erupted after the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma in July. Since Indians were attacked, officers who were scheduled to fly for the meeting had to postpone trip," said an officer. Insurgency in neighbouring Mozambique - which abuts Kruger National Park was also an issue, he said.   

The team has rescheduled their visit for mid-September. "There will be a meeting of the project core team before we go there," said the officer.  

The ministry of forests and environment
 is in talks with the IAF to fly the cheetahs the 8,000km to India. "It's a long journey and we don't want the wild animals to be stressed. We will try to land them at a nearby airport, Shivpuri (30km) or Gwalior (140km)," an officer said. 



In Madhya Pradesh, recent floods in the Chambal region have also slowed down progress. "The roads inside Kuno sanctuary have been damaged by flood and incessant rain. We are facing difficulties in transporting equipment," said another IFS officer involved in the project. 



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