Cheetah Reintroduction in India

[Matias]

Interesting to know that the sanctuary of Gandhisagar is being prepared. Good to know that, concurrently with the local Kuno initiative, the Wildlife Institute is crafting new introductions in Madhya Pradesh, which may dissuade many opinions about Kuno and his safari project, into a national cheetah reintroduction project also by other states in the nation.


When an action is already being put into practice, and it is no longer any use discussing the reasons for conservation or tourism as the engine of this process, the question of maximizing issues that favor the project's success remains. South Africa has good projects for metapopulation of cheetahs, in part by private initiative with support from SANParks. Namibia has the largest population of free-ranging cheetahs, as well as the largest population in livestock farming areas in the center and northwest of the country. But there are also many conservation projects that are debatable as to the real goals achieved, such as the sanctuaries of Naankuse and Harnas, which have many rescued cheetahs. However many become accustomed to the excessive time on site, and individuals from both initiatives can be used to relocate to India, which may not be the most suitable. In January 2021, a family of adapted desert lions were rescued for Naankuse (with MEFT authorization) as they were too emaciated by severe drought. However, after 11 months they remain in Naankuse, instead of being returned to their natural swath of occupation and free life.


I tried to find information on where the cheetahs will come from and I found nothing. There are many issues that go unnoticed by the vast majority, and one of the most sensitive are local pathogens. It is not a matter of deterring by presenting problems, but rather showing how a continental translocation must have serious health measures that are predictive of the success of the relocated animal, as well as keeping local ecosystem health intact.


This LINK study addresses the seroprevalence of viral pathogens in free and captive cheetahs in Namibian Farmlands.


This other LINK deals with the discoveries of cheetah "communication centers" in Namibia's agricultural environments. 

Knowing the ecological demands of cheetahs will be a maximizing factor for assertive measures that should be incorporated into monitoring when released in Kuno and other protected areas. Reply