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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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Since, 1980's Indian government wanted to regain it's extinct animal which is the only large vertebrate or placental mammal extinct in past 200 yrs i.e.., Indian or Asiatic cheetah (Acionyx jubatus venaticus) which was extinct in 1950's officially. Since then, then UPA or Congress Government wanted to bring back the Asiatic cheetah.
1. Asiatic Cheetah Reintroduction Project from Iran to India was first considered for this vital conservation effort. However, it is lost now and almost impossible as currently Gir lions can't be shifted even to other states within the country and so there is no question going outside country. Secondly, Iranian AKA Asiatic cheetah is almost extinct in wild with less than 40 individuals counted individually left and the population trend is decreasing according to recent census with hostile human matrix and other anthropological factors, low prey base, lack of full fledged protection due to insufficient funds etc.., 2. Cheetah Reintroduction from Namibia was looked as an alternative for this Project after the lost hope of Iran and this is treated as last thing left to do. This alternative option is being constantly verified by government of Madhya Pradesh as both are of same species and not against rule of introduction of non-native "species" according IUCN guidelines and helpful in conservation of "at least" South African cheetah outside the Africa continent as Asiatic cheetah can't be saved now and restoring the balance for the collapsing or vanishing Indian Grassland or Scublands ecosystems and it’s biodiversity which Humans also depend in many ways directly and indirectly. These can be saved by this Project alongside Asiatic lion Reintroduction Project. Namibia and South Africa is ready to give some cheetahs to India when India asked after the order of Supreme Court in 2013. Conflicts can be mitigated with the proper awareness and educational programs with the local communities like making them distinguish between leopard and cheetah. As India, doesn't want a big population like in Africa but a small sub or meta population, the space required for about 50 individuals in each proposed site. So, there is ample space in places like Nauradehi and enough for approximately 60 individuals in Kuno and sizable populations in other parts of Rajasthan reserves like Desert NP and Shahgarh bulge and for those populations prey base in numbers and diversity are Blackbuck, Indian gazelle, Chital, Sambar, Nilagai or Bluebull and Chausinga etc.., is fair and adequate in Kuno and Nauradehi with a potential to hold a good and healthy population. With proper protection and measures, these populations can be increased more in those reintroduced regions/areas. Let's see how table turns. 
@Sanju
I believe that your intention in creating this topic is good and serves a genuine interest. It turns out that there is a lack of information to justify its existence, be it an article, news, report or an interview with a renowned conservationist, who will present the matter in a concrete and factual way. The initial posting is very important to make the topic attractive, generate interest for the "wildfacters" to seek information or present their opinions for its development.
There is already a topic: Cheetah (Info, Videos, Pics), where I made a post (161) that just speaks a little about the issue of reintroduction of the African Cheetah on Indian soil. Creating a topic to discuss the reintroduction of cheetah is a good initiative on your part, where the return of this species will restore an ancient ecological network. Its extinction is lamentable and there are a multitude of historical and current situations that we could bring to life and an objective meaning for this topic. Move on and add good content. 
Owing to the critical situation Asiatic cheetahs of Iran are in, bringing Saharan or Sudan cheetahs would've made most sense... given the new studies suggest that they may be the same sub-species as Asiatic Cheetahs!
As per the official site of IUCN Redlist: "The review by Krausman and Morales (2005) included Cheetahs from the northern Sahara in venaticus. The type locality of A. j. venaticus is unknown. At a November 2006 meeting of the North African Region Cheetah Action Group (NARCAG), Belbachir (2007) recommended genetic studies to clarify whether the Cheetahs of Algeria (which probably has the largest Saharan Cheetah population) should be classified as A. j. hecki or A. j. venaticus." (Source) Much of their range is facing political turmoil & India can promise them a better future... Also, a tiny population of rewilded NorthEast African cheetahs are living in Sir BaniYas island for repopulating project in UAE that as seen tremendous success in its baby steps. One of their females had even had a litter of four, while cheetahs are difficult to breed even in captivity! They are part of a breeding project in Djibouti Cheetah Refuge, & an EEP in European zoos. The female Sudan Cheetah "Safiya" with her cubs in Sir Bani Yas island.  *This image is copyright of its original author Neither countries have complicated relationship with India. With some will & coordination, India could get her hands on first & second best options for reintroducing cheetahs in India... (12-03-2018, 07:29 AM)Rishi Wrote: Owing to the critical situation Asiatic cheetahs of Iran are in, bringing Saharan or Sudan cheetahs would've made most sense... given the new studies suggest that they may be the same sub-species as Asiatic Cheetahs! @Rishi I have a doubt. Namibia readily accepted to give some cheetahs but will this Saharan country like Sudan and Arab country like UAE accept to give cheetahs without expecting anything in return? Apart from that Indian administration is unstable with recent disagreement of experts (coz of prey base, space and reaction of local villagers issue) in cheetah reintroduction programme or project which now made things jammed and put on hold. I see no such problems as there is fair herbivore numbers, diversity and density, grasslands-scrub land habitat and sufficient area in nauradehi, Kuno of Madhya Pradesh and banni grassland reserve in Rajasthan for a small population of 30 to 50 individuals based on current situation. With proper awareness programmes telling and describing the behaviour of this feline and difference between leopard and cheetah to local people will mitigate that risk too. Also, this population size or numbers may increase with proper hard work and dedication towards conservation by increasing prey more and giving secular habitat protection from poaching (i think poaching is not a problem to cheetah as Chinese don't use cheetah in traditional medicine or other purposes). Then why some experts are denying this project as a good idea??
Iran Stepping Up Efforts to Save Asiatic Cheetahs
By IFP Editorial Staff- December 3, 2018 - 07:57  *This image is copyright of its original author Quote:On the eve of the International Cheetah Day marked on December 4, the head of Iran’s Department of Environment (DoE) says efforts are underway to save Asiatic (Iranian) cheetahs through tissue culture, the growth of tissues or cells separate from the organism.Issa Kalantari said the Department of Environment is following up on the issue of breeding cheetahs through Royan Institute. “We are doing our best to revitalise the Asiatic cheetah through tissue culture with the help of the research institute,” he said, adding that the project to save the highly-endangered species is funded by the DoE. The Asiatic cheetah also known as Iranian or Persian cheetah, the fastest animal in the world, is a critically endangered cheetah subspecies surviving today only in Iran. The Asiatic cheetah survives in protected areas in the eastern-central arid region of Iran, where the human population density is very low. The cheetah is one of the most important cats-like canivorans in the world. Less than 50 of this animal are remaining in wildlife. The only remaining population of the Asiatic cheetahs is scattered in Iran, and if these 50 ones face extinction, a valuable species will be destroyed forever in the whole world. People around the world mark day of cheetahs annually on December 4. These beautiful animals have paced and graced human existence for thousands of years. https://ifpnews.com/exclusive/iran-stepp...-cheetahs/  *This image is copyright of its original author By Rajat Ghai Last Updated: Wednesday 05 December 2018 Wildlife & Biodiversity The fate of the Cheetah Reintroduction Plan hangs in the balance. Even as the world marked International Cheetah Day on December 4, the nearly one-decade-old plan to reintroduce the Cheetah to India has still not been realised.  *This image is copyright of its original author Cheetahs are yet to run wild in India, nearly 10 years after the Centre decided to bring them to the land where they once roamed. In late October, a report prepared by a central empowered committee based on peer reviewed papers on cheetahs was submitted by the amicus curiae in the case, A D N Rao. He also said that India did not have “required habitat and prey density” to support cheetahs. In 2009, the United Progressive Alliance government had floated a plan to re-introduce cheetahs into the wild in India. When Iran, the only country in the world to have a small population of Asiatic Cheetahs refused to send any to India, it was decided to introduce African Cheetahs to India instead. An expert panel formed by the government shortlisted a number of protected areas where cheetahs could be relocated. These were Kuno-Palpur and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, Velavadar National Park in Gujarat and the Shahgarh bulge in Rajasthan. The Kuno reintroduction plan ran into trouble. The protected area had also been shortlisted for introduction of Asiatic Lions from heavily-populated Gir in Gujarat. In order to not give lions to Kuno, Gujarat's legal counsel had put forward the argument that Kuno was being used for the introduction of African cheetah which might take several years to fully settle down and repopulate the area and hence reintroduction of lions should only be done after that. In 2013, the Supreme Court had quashed a decision of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to introduce African cheetahs to Kuno-Palpur. Another plan, to translocate 20 cheetahs from Namibia to Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, also in Madhya Pradesh, had hit a roadblock for want of funds. This year, the Supreme Court has agreed to consider its 2013 decision even as the Madhya Pradesh government has written to the National Tiger Conservation Authority to revive the Nauradehi project. But will cheetahs ever be able to roam in India, with all the road blocks? “Let us see how the government plans this. But I do not support this plan. You already have big cats in India. Instead of bringing something alien to this country, why not make the lives of the cats we have better?” asks Faiyaz Ahmed Khudsar, who has worked for a long time in Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary. “This project is being done keeping in view tourism benefits. But that is not everything. Indeed, individual species conservation in India does not follow the ecosystem approach which addresses issues at the trophic level that makes an ecosystem function, which in turns yields benefits for humans,” adds Khudsar. “Trophic level” refers to each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, consisting of organisms sharing the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy. Khudsar also echoed what A D N Rao had said in court about India not having required habitat and prey density to support cheetahs. “As far as Kuno-Palpur is concerned, I am dead against having cheetahs being introduced there. The place was prepared exclusively to receive Asiatic Lions from Gir. People from 24 villages in the sanctuary were shifted to make way for them. And now you say that instead of the lions, cheetahs are going to be introduced. The people who have been relocated will ask questions. What answers will we give them?” he asks. The second aspect of cheetah reintroduction to Kuno-Palpur is the lack of prey base. “A cheetah requires a large area to support itself. India has very few natural grasslands left. Kuno was never intended to be a place for something that runs to catch its prey. Moreover, the cheetah’s main prey in times of yore, the Indian Gazelle or Chinkara is also diminishing in number due to ecological succession. As humans take over grasslands and use them for agriculture, over time, such landscapes develop more woodland into which species like chital, wild pig and Sambur move in and species like the Chinkara diminish. Bringing the Cheetah into such a landscape, of which Kuno is a prime example, could cause serious human-animal conflict in which the cheetah would be the loser,” Khudsar says. However, he is not as opposed to cheetah reintroduction in other areas as he is to Kuno-Palpur. “We will have to wait and watch.” https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wild...ance-62391
Wildlife & Biodiversity
Why the cheetah may never come back to India? Last Updated: Thursday 06 December 2018 The year India became independent it also lost all its cheetahs. In 1947, India's last two Asiatic Cheetahs were shot dead in erstwhile princely state of Surguja. Five years later, in 1952, India officially declared its cheetah population to be extinct but some reports may prolong this period upto 1960's. In 2009, the UPA government (Congress Party) floated a plan to re-introduce Cheetahs into the wild in India. Iran the only country with a small population of Asiatic Cheetah refused to send any to India for the refusal of "Gujarat's" Lions to Iran. So India planned to introducing African Cheetahs instead. An expert panel formed by the government shortlisted three protected areas where cheetah's could be relocated. These were
Quote:"A male cheetah hunts every two to five days, while a female with cubs hunts daily." A section of the experts have argued that these conditions do not prevail in India. But now this plan may have been shelved "forever". A supreme court panel looking into cheetah re-introduction has said that this is a bad idea. It has said that India does not have the “required habitat and prey density” to support cheetahs. It is almost certain now that these spotted animals will never be sighted in the wild again in India.  https://www.downtoearth.org.in/video/wil...dia--62399  *This image is copyright of its original author An Asiatic/Indian/Persian/Arabian Cheetah chasing its main prey, Indian Antelope/Black Buck (Antelope cervicapra). The most beautiful antelope in the world  (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  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author 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.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author 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.  *This image is copyright of its original author 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.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Why reintroduce the cheetah to India?
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author 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.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author 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.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author 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.  *This image is copyright of its original author 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.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author What’s the next Step?
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Assessing the Potential for Reintroducing the Cheetah in India (PHVA)
Citation: Ranjitsinh, M. K. & Jhala, Y. V. (2010) Assessing the potential for reintroducing the cheetah in India. Wildlife Trust of India, Noida, & Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, TR2010/001. *This image is copyright of its original author Executive Summary:
IUCN has given no-objection to translocation of Cheetahs from Namibia, NTCA tells SC
Press Trust of India | New Delhi Last Updated at December 7, 2018 18:45 IST First Published: Fri, December 07 2018. 18:45 IST ALSO READ:
Quote:The National Tiger Conservation Authority Friday informed the Supreme Court that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has given no objection for translocation of cheetahs in India from Namibia in Africa. NTCA told a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta that IUCN, which provides inputs to governments and institutions on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development, has said it would co-operate with India in translocation of Cheetahs from Namibia. NTCA referred to the apex court's 2013 decision rendered in a wildlife case and said it does not prevent the authorities from taking steps in conformity with the law to relocated cheetahs from Africa to suitable sites in India. "IUCN is against to "Introduction" of different non native species not native species "Reintroduction" into their historic range of recent extinction whether they are called by Geographical name as African cheetah (South east african cheetah subspecies- Acionyx jubatus jubatus), they belong to the same species and are basal to all world's modern cheetah subspecies population. The court said the matter would be taken up for hearing in third week of January and it would also consider a detailed note filed before it by advocate A D N Rao, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the matter. NTCA had earlier told the court that they have complied with IUCN's requirements for re-location of cheetahs here. https://www.business-standard.com/articl...165_1.html
BSIP joins hands with ZSI to bat for bringing back cheetahs as imports from Africa
SOUMITRA NANDI4 Feb 2019 12:01 AM Kolkata: A joint study by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences (BSIP) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has arrived at a conclusion that cheetahs, which had become extinct in the country from the early 1950s, can be imported from Africa. Quote:The study, which will soon be published in an international journal, will surely be a shot in the arm for the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEF & CC), which has been striving to reintroduce the African cheetahs in India for quite some time. Quote:"We began working on this "since 2014" and after a detailed study, we can argue that Indian cheetah was very similar to its African counterpart and hence the big cats can be imported from Africa. They can survive in India easily. We will soon publish our paper in an international journal and will accordingly write to the Centre, urging them to take up the matter," said Niraj Rai, senior scientist of the Lucknow-based BSIP.  *This image is copyright of its original author The work has been carried out by Rai along with Mukesh Thakur of the Centre for DNA Taxonomy of ZSI, Kolkata and Late Lalji Singh, the former director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. ZSI director Kailash Chandra has provided his guidance and assistance. One of the two animal samples that were involved in the study dates back more than 150 years,  , while the other one was found in the Rewa area of Madhya Pradesh in the early 1950s, believed to be the country's last recorded big cat in the wild. Quote:It may be mentioned that the centre's argument for reintroduction of the big cats is presently pending before the Supreme Court with the latter stating that the government must give priority to protect Asiatic lions, an endangered species and to provide them a second home. The SC has also sought a detailed scientific study with objections being raised against import of a foreign species (it is not a foreign"species" it is of the same species "jubatus") that never existed in India. The National Tiger Conservation Authority had stated before the apex court that there is not much difference between the African and Asiatic subspecies of cheetah. The Iranian cheetah is genetically closest to the one that went extinct in India, but it is now difficult to get them from Iran due to their small population size. Therefore, India may bring cheetah from Africa, with a vast majority of the 7,100 cheetahs left in the world being there. http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/bsip-joins-hands-with-zsi-to-bat-for-bringing-back-cheetahs-as-imports-from-africa-339189?fbclid=IwAR1MMBTWa4vkHOMHwnFVSZ3X6IfrvqnFD6DFAAXBqmXQnP4EmKNCuTkyvgM I couldn't have found better news than this... So delighted to here this good news... "Good News of the Year". 
I don't really like the idea of introducing african cheetahs in india. Both india and iran should work on that lion cheethah exchange again.
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