Bigcats News

[Rishi]

Not sure if it's good news or NTCA is being reckless...

---

Supreme Court Shows Hope for Cheetah Reintroduction Plan in India
April 14, 2018


NTCA argues that reintroduction of the Cheetahs would help conservation of grasslands and open forests in the manner tiger conservation did.

*This image is copyright of its original author

NEW DELHI: Eight years on, the Central government may finally see a glimmer of hope for its ambitious cheetah re-introduction project.

The Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider its 2013 order that had quashed a decision of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to introduce African cheetahs in Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
The top court had earlier noted that no detailed study had been conducted before introducing a 'foreign' species to India and that the designated expert body had also not been consulted. 

This order stalled the project initiated by the MoEF in 2010 to bring the cheetah, which became extinct from India’s forests in 1952, back to the country. However, agreeing to rethink, a plea by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is up for hearing.

Trapping of extravagant numbers of wild adults, for assisting in royal hunts is said to be a major cause of the species' rapid decline in India as there is only one record of a litter ever born to captive animals.

*This image is copyright of its original author

"The application for directions is to the effect that the decision rendered by this Court does not prevent the authorities from taking steps in conformity with the applicable law to re-introduce Cheetahs from Africa to suitable sites in India, identified by the Wildlife Institute of India based on a detailed site-specific action plan."

In its application the NTCA has told that various suitable sites have been identified by the Wildlife Institute of India, which include Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, and Shahgarh area in Rajasthan.

"More sites can be examined if the court permits," states the application, adding  Reply