Cheetah Reintroduction in India

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Sanju

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#10

12-11-2018, 04:52 PM

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An Asiatic/Indian/Persian/Arabian Cheetah chasing its main prey, Indian Antelope/Black Buck (Antelope cervicapra).
The most beautiful antelope in the world Wow

(IMO) and my state animal.
It is sometimes considered as the 2nd or 3rd fastest land animal with speed ranging from 80 km/hr (50 mph) to 112.654 km/hr (70 m/hr) after cheetah (100 – 125 km/h or even more sometimes with an acceleration of 10 m/s and gets up to 40 mph (64 kph) in three strides/3 seconds) and Pronghorn (98 km/h-105 km/hr at max and sometimes considered as 2nd fastest after cheetah).
Indian Antelope is perfect match i.e.., fastest prey for the fastest land mammal on the planet in India to hunt besides its other main prey Chinkara/Indian gazelle (50-65 km/hr) like Thompson's Gazelle [50–55 m/hour (80–90 km/h)] serves as fastest prey for cheetah in Africa.
https://home.iitm.ac.in/prakriti/prakrit...ucks1.html

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The cheetah once wandered across both the Asian and African dryland ecosystems. Today, although over 5000 cheetahs still survive in isolated populations in Africa, there are less than 50 individuals of Asiatic cheetah subspecies are surviving in the arid regions of eastern Iran. India was once home to many cheetahs, but the last of them was killed in 1947 and the cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952.

It is the only large mammal to have been declared extinct in our country in recorded history. Reintroducing this beautiful animal will ensure the restoration of our natural heritage. Most importantly, it will contribute towards the conservation of the dry land (grassland, scrub land and open forest) ecosystems that the cheetah inhabits along with the Asiatic Lion and Indian wolf as an apex predator/flagship/critical keystone species.

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What is a cheetah?

A cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a bigcat (used informal word based on size not on scientific basis) like the leopard, and is a member of the family Felidae. As a sprinter capable of reaching speeds of 30 m/s, it is the fastest land animal and specialises in running down its prey. While stalking the prey, cheetah goes as close as possible to the target approximately 30 m perimeter range and chase down the prey by sprinting in short bursts of speed and tackles within 100-200 yards. Cheetahs have an average hunting success rate of 40 to 50% but lose their kills to other strong predators. Cheetahs kill their prey by tripping it during the chase and suffocation with neck bite; the cheetah can use its strong dewclaw to knock the prey off its balance. Female cheetahs hunt daily when raising cubs.

In the African plains, the cheetah hunts and eats animals such as antelope, wild pigs and hares while in Iran, the chief prey is gazelle. Research indicates that the cheetah avoids livestock populations and it mostly hunts medium sized prey. Cheetah is a shy animal and doesn't cause any harm to humans even it has the potential to do. The chance of cheetah-livestock conflict is almost negligible.

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Where does it live?

Today, the cheetah is found only in the arid regions of eastern Iran in Asia, and in Africa, it is found in isolated populations in grasslands, scrublands and open forests across the continent, especially in the countries of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

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Why reintroduce the cheetah to India?

Just as the tiger is the flagship species of the forest, the cheetah is the flagship and keystone species of the grasslands, scrublands and open forests. Therefore, with the reintroduction of the cheetah, these critically endangered Indian dryland ecosystems of India will have a chance to return to their natural state.
Being a top carnivore with other predators like Lion and wolf, the cheetah is a major evolutionary force that shapes ecosystem functions and enhances species diversity.
The cheetah is part of our (Indian) heritage :-

1. It is the only large mammal that has been declared extinct in India in recent history. 2. It is extensively mentioned in Indian literature, with the word ‘cheetah’ itself originating from the Sanskrit word ‘chitraka’ which means ‘speckled one’. 3. Indian rulers, especially the Mughals, kept cheetahs as pets and used them for hunting. Emperor Akbar, for example, maintained a stable of over one thousand cheetahs but they barely bred in the captivity. (such a waste!)

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Will the cheetah be Prone to Poaching?

While the cheetah has a soft coat of fur with a unique spotted pattern which makes it a target for some poachers, there is no demand for the cheetah’s body parts like there is for the tiger’s. Thus, unlike the tiger, the cheetah does not have a huge price on its head and poaching is much less of a threat.

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Where could the cheetah be reintroduced?

Currently, wildlife experts have identified three regions which have the potential to support cheetah populations. The Nauradehi and Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and the Shahgarh Landscape in Rajasthan have been declared potentially suitable for the reintroduction of the cheetah.

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Who Will be affected?

To prevent human - wildlife conflict and to ensure the ethical implementation of Project Cheetah, human settlements that may be affected will be given generous and adequate compensation for their role in this national initiative. 80 seasonally used human settlements in the Shahgarh Landscape and 23 settlements in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary may be relocated with the consent and cooperation of the inhabitants.

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Currently, these local communities have no access to modern amenities such as medical access, transportation, markets, schools, and occasionally even to electricity. Dacoits threaten some areas, while in others conflict with wildlife threatens livelihoods. Aiding them in their endeavour to develop alternative livelihoods will contribute to the success of Project Cheetah, and will need
to be an integral part of the project.

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What’s the next Step?

A task force for Project Cheetah is being created which will continue its assessments regarding the reintroduction of the cheetah.
Further scientific surveys will be conducted in the designated project sites to provide a detailed report on their suitability as cheetah habitat, and road maps for their eco restoration will be developed.
Discussions and negotiations with countries which currently host cheetah populations will be carried out to obtain suitable cheetah individuals for Project Cheetah.