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(04-14-2018, 05:08 PM)Rishi Wrote: Not sure if it's good news or NTCA is being reckless...

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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.

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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 

@Rishi appreciate your enthusiasm, cheetah no doubt must be reintroduced in India. But I dont think that reintroduction of African cheetahs in Asia is right decision in the moment when Asiatic cheetah still exist in Iran... Its true that differences between different subspecies of cheetah is probably smaller than among any other big cat in the world and they are almost identical, but nevertheless... If you bring African cheetahs in West India, they multiple and migrate into direction of Pakistan in one moment they can mix with Asiatic cheetahs in Iran, that will lead to bastartisation of original Asiatic cheetah and its pure genes will be lost. To introduce African cheetahs in Kuno wildlife sanctuary is almost same as to introduce in Kuno Serengeti lions from East Africa because Gujarat is not giving its lions...

Currently the number of wild cheetahs in Iran is so low that is impossible to move even one pear to India because that will be a significant blow for entire Iranian population. So what should Indians do? They have to wait for 10-20 years more untill situation with Iranian cheetahs is clear up - will they disapear compleetly or will increase their numbers and get some of them. If Asiatic cheetah by wonder revive Iran could even exchange some of its cheetahs for Asiatic lions from India... Lets not forget that the old name of Iran is "Persia" and the scientific name of Asiatic lion is Panthera leo persica - "Persian lion".
So I think that moment to reintroduce cheetahs in India is not yet come! But what is come brother is to translocate part of the Asiatic lions outside of Gujarat... the decision of Indian Supreme court must be implemented, the fail of its implementation by Gujarat is illegal and hence criminal act.

P.S.
Notheast African cheetah (A. j. soemmeringii) according to wikipedia is closely related to South African cheetah (A. j.jubatus) not to Asiatic subspecie (A. j. venaticus) Reply