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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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Cheetah Reintroduction in India
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Madhya Pradesh: Five more cheetahs to get free-roam permit in Kuno National Park
Wildlife authorities are set to release five more cheetahs from fenced enclosures into open free-roaming areas of the Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, before the onset of the monsoon rains in June as part of efforts to populate India with wild cheetahs. The five cheetahs — three female and two male — will join three Namibian cheetahs released into Kuno’s open area in March and put to test competing claims among wildlife researchers about how many cheetahs Kuno’s 748sqkm can support. The free-roaming cheetahs will be allowed to move out of Kuno and will be recaptured only if they venture into areas where they might be in “significant danger,” three wildlife experts and an official from the National Tiger Conservation Authority have said. The 10 other cheetahs in Kuno will remain behind fenced enclosures called “acclimatisation camps” through the monsoon season, but staff will open internal gates to provide more space to the cheetahs and to allow them to mate, the experts said in a document outlining future plans. One of the 10 is a Namibian female that gave birth in March to four cubs after mating in December. She will remain in the camp where she will be able to hunt prey and raise her cubs. The decision to release five more cheetahs emerged after experts from India and South Africa visited Kuno on April 30 to inspect the cheetahs. “All cheetahs were in good physical condition, making kills at regular intervals, and displaying natural behaviour,” the experts said in their report. India’s environment ministry brought eight cheetahs from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 more from South Africa in February this year for its cheetah introduction project that seeks to establish clusters of cheetah populations in several wildlife reserves. A Namibian cheetah died on March 27 from kidney disease and a South African cheetah died on April 23. An initial post-mortem study on the South African cheetah has determined heart-and-lung failure which, experts say, merely marks a terminal phase of death and not the cause. The post-mortemexam also indicated a brain haemorrhage whose cause remains unknown. India is releasing cheetahs amid debate and uncertainty over Kuno’s cheetah-carrying capacity. “Nobody has studied cheetahs in an Indian landscape before, so nobody can claim to know for sure what the exact cheetah carrying-capacity will be in Kuno,” said Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinary wildlife specialist at the University of Pretoria and an advisor to the project. The cheetah introduction plan had estimated Kuno’s cheetah carrying capacity as 21. But one of four Namibian cheetahs released had moved out of Kuno and approached villages several times, prompting staff to recapture it and place it within a fenced enclosure, triggering speculation about what might happen if more cheetahs are released. The criteria to pick five more for release included their relative ease of approachability by cheetah monitoring teams. “They should not be too skittish. If they’re very wild, they’ll be almost impossible to follow closely and difficult to recapture if they travel too far or get into trouble,” Tordiffe said. Sections of wildlife biologists who have studied cheetahs in Africa have expressed concern that the project has disregarded the spatial requirements of cheetahs and predicted that cheetahs in Kuno will come into conflict with livestock farmers. Bettina Wachter, an evolutionary ecologist in Germany and her colleagues predicted last month that three male cheetahs will occupy the entire Kuno and not leave space for any more territorial males which will therefore likely move outside the park’s boundaries. But Qamar Qureshi, a senior scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and currently the chief scientist guiding the cheetah introduction project, said Wachter’s predictions are based on observations from Africa that, he said, cannot be extrapolated to India. “Our landscape, our prey abundance, our prey distribution is different from those in Africa,” said Qureshi. “We do not have migratory prey as in Africa. Our carrying capacity will be determined by resources the cheetahs find in the local landscape.” Qureshi said it is not surprising to see cheetahs moving across large areas soon after release. “It is just their exploratory phase. Once they get to know the landscape and its resources, they will settle down and the area they settle down will be much smaller than their exploratory area,” he said. Qureshi and Tordiffe were among those who met in Kuno on April 30. The others included Vincent van der Merwe, an expert managing cheetah populations in South Africa and Amit Mallik, inspector general of forests with the NTCA, the environment ministry agency implementing the cheetah project. https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/india/madhya-pradesh-five-more-cheetahs-to-get-free-roam-permit-in-kuno-national-park/cid/1935097?fbclid=IwAR33U7y9J9M6SnaSVBfOCKOJDLafFXFaZpiTO0TmrsIBdvuQGF7ZRWobbXc&mibextid=S66gvF
Supreme Court concerned over death of cheetahs at KNP, asks Centre to consider shifting them to Rajasthan
The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over the death of three cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park (KNP) of Madhya Pradesh in less than two months and asked the Centre to rise above politics and consider shifting them to Rajasthan. A bench of justices BR Gavai and Sanjay Karol told the Centre that from reports of experts and articles, it appears that KNP does not seem to be sufficient for such large number of cheetahs and the Union government may consider shifting them to other sanctuaries. "Three deaths (of cheetahs) in less than two months is a matter of serious concern. There are opinions of experts and articles in media. It appears that Kuno is not sufficient for so many cheetahs. There is too much concentration of cheetahs at one place. Why don't you look for suitable place in Rajasthan? Merely because Rajasthan is ruled by opposition party does not mean, you will not consider it," the bench said. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre said the task force is seized of the deaths and is investigating all possible aspects including shifting them to other sanctuaries. On March 27, a female Cheetah named Sasha (from Namibia) died due to kidney ailment, on April 23, Uday (S Africa) died due to cardio-pulmonary failure and on May 9, another South African female cheetah named Daksha, died following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt. The bench said from the reports it seems one cheetah died after suffering injuries during a fight between two males over mating and one died of kidney related ailment. "We came to know that the cheetah which died due to kidney related ailment was suffering from the problem before being brought to India. Question is how was that female cheetah cleared to be brought to India, if the feline was suffering from ailment," the bench said. Bhati said autopsies of all the deaths were done and task force is investigating the issue. "You are bringing the cheetahs from abroad, it's a good thing. But they need to be protected. They need to be given suitable habitat, why don't you explore for more suitable habitat than Kuno", the bench said, adding that it is not casting any aspersions on the government but expressing concern over the deaths. Bhati said one cheetah has given birth to four cubs which shows that they are acclimatising well in Kuno. Justice Gavai, who is heading the green bench of the apex court, said environmental issues concern him very much and it is a subject which is close to his heart. Bhati said death of cheetahs is not an unusual thing but they are thoroughly investigating and if the court wishes, the government would like to file an additional affidavit giving the details of the deaths. The bench said it not doubting the intent of the government but there are articles and reports of cheetah experts in newspapers and therefore the Centre must consider at least one or more habitat for them. "The cheetahs were brought subsequent to orders of this court. It appears Kuno is not sufficient for them, therefore consider transferring them to other sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan, wherever it suitable," the bench said, adding the government should consider taking views from cheetah experts. Justice Gavai told Bhati, "Don't bring party-politics into this issue. Consider all the available habitats, whatever is suitable for them. I will be glad if cheetahs are brought to Maharashtra." Bhati said Mukundara National Park is ready and the task force is also considering transferring some of them to other national park in Madhya Pradesh. "There are no cheetah experts in India as cheetahs went extinct from the country in 1947-48. Since then our officials have been to South Africa, Namibia and undergone specialized training on Cheetah management", Bhati said, adding if the court is considering hearing views of cheetah experts, then it should hear all of them and not one or two, who have particular kind of opinions. The bench then asked the apex court-constituted expert committee to give its suggestion to the national task force on cheetah in 15 days, so that it could be considered. It posted the matter for further hearing after summer vacation. The top court's direction came while hearing an application filed by the Centre seeking direction from the court that it is no longer necessary and mandatory for the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to continue taking the guidance and advice of the expert committee appointed by this court through an order dated January 28, 2020. The top court had then said that the three-member committee comprising former director of wildlife protection M K Ranjit Sinh, chief conservator of forests, wildlife administration in Uttarakhand Dhananjai Mohan and the DIG (Wildlife) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) will guide the NTCA in the introduction of African cheetahs in India. On March 28, a day after the first death of cheetah at Kuno, the top court had sought details of experts in the Cheetah Task Force such as their qualification and experience. The Centre, in its application said that according to the action plan for cheetah introduction in India, annually 8-14 big cats are required to be brought in from African countries for the next five-years at least and an memorandum of understanding in this regard has been signed by the government of India with Namibia and South Africa for cooperation in the field of cheetah conservation. Giving the details, the Centre said that following the signing of the MOU, "in a historic wild to wild intercontinental translocation of large carnivore, eight cheetahs were transported from Namibia to India on September 17, 2022 and were released into the quarantine enclosures in Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh". The government said that as per MoU with South Africa, 12 cheetahs -- seven males and five females -- were translocated from South Africa to KNP on February 18, 2023. It said that this entire exercise of cheetah introduction in India has been carried out under the expert guidance and supervision of the International cheetah experts, scientists, veterinarians, forest officials and NTCA in consultations with the committee appointed by this court vide order dated January 28, 2020. https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/supreme-court-concerned-over-death-of-cheetahs-at-knp-asks-centre-to-consider-shifting-them-to-rajasthan-509016?fbclid=IwAR3FHfaQ8wvA_hkBgu2Pytny29KOJICdrIDgDOh8yC9zr_N4Q5qW1L_fGEU&mibextid=S66gvF
Three more cheetahs released into wild at MP's Kuno National Park; count rises to six
Three more [color=var(--linkcolor)]cheetahs were released into the wild at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, taking the count to six, an official said on Saturday.[/color] Three cheetahs - two males named Agni and Vayu and one female Gamini - were released into the wild at the KNP on Friday. All three of them had been brought to India from South Africa, JS Chouhan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) told PTI. With this, six cheetahs have been released into the wild at the KNP so far. Now, 11 translocated felines and four cubs are left in the enclosures, he said. Three Namibian female cheetahs, who were among the eight felines brought to the KNP in September last year, and one male are still kept in enclosures, the official said. "One of the female Namibian cheetahs is to be released in the free-range in the next couple of days. Another female feline from Namibia couldn't be released as she gave birth to cubs. The third female cheetah is not fit for the release into the forest," he said. Male Namibian cheetah Oban, who had strayed out of the conservation area and was rescued last month while moving towards Jhansi, is also kept in an enclosure, he said. Eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were brought to the KNP and released into special enclosures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17 last year as part of an ambitious reintroduction programme of the species. Later, 12 cheetahs - seven males and five females - were brought to the KNP from South Africa on February 18 this year. Of these 20 translocated felines, three cheetahs - Daksha, Sasha and Uday - died in enclosures the past two months. The cheetah, named Siyaya, had given birth to four cubs in March this year at KNP. The last cheetah died in India in Koriya district in present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947, and the species was declared extinct from the country in 1952. https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/three-more-cheetahs-released-into-wild-mp-kuno-national-park-count-rises-to-six-2381875-2023-05-20?fbclid=IwAR1FlH3pEZ28-LuOG_hjxllySjd4lv4zpXnuuw2m-lW8GxzegxsxmdSCoTM&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
One More Cheetah Released Into Kuno National Park, Count Reaches 7
One more cheetah has been released into the wild at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district, taking the count to seven, an official said on Monday. Neerva, a female cheetah from South Africa aged 3-4 years, was released into the wild from a larger enclosure at the KNP on Sunday evening, the national park's Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Prakash Kumar Verma said. So far, seven cheetahs have been released into the free-range so far, while 10 are still housed in larger enclosures, he said. The decision about the release of remaining cheetahs into the wild will be taken by the steering committee constituted by the Centre. The committee members are scheduled to visit the KNP on Tuesday, the official said. Eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were brought to the KNP and released into special enclosures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17 last year as part of an ambitious reintroduction programme of the species. Later, 12 cheetahs - seven males and five females - were brought to the national park from South Africa on February 18 this year. Cheetah Jwala, earlier known as Siyaya, who was translocated from Namibia, gave birth to four cubs at the KNP in March this year. Three of the cubs died earlier this month. These cubs were the first to be born in the wild on Indian soil after the last cheetah was hunted in Korea district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947. Apart from these cheetah cubs, three of the 20 adult cheetahs - Daksha, Sasha and Uday - translocated from South Africa and Namibia have died at the KNP. Namibian cheetah Sasha died due to a kidney-related ailment on March 27, Uday brought in from South Africa died on April 13, while South African cheetah Daksha succumbed to the injuries following a violent interaction with a male during a mating attempt on May 9. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/one-more-cheetah-released-into-kuno-national-park-count-reaches-7-4075513/amp/1?fbclid=IwAR0cyEU5ei165M7GE6rT4fqfx44QVQmPv_cTZyVxBOtSaRJ3ojr1WhVbAao_aem_th_AUK7vKkAckh18jk_d1rFvrk5bBIFObXqc3DMhzHOWWPLMUISodXtnUtSBPah04_CdNU&mibextid=S66gvF
Seven more cheetahs to be released into wild at Kuno National Park by June third week
Seven more cheetahs, including two females, will be released into the wild in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park by the third week of June, the chairman of the high-level committee set up to monitor the progress of the much vaunted Cheetah reintroduction project said on Thursday. Under the ambitious programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh on September 17 last year. In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18. Three cheetahs died in March and April. Of the 17 remaining adult cheetahs, seven have already been released into the wild. "The project is on track and there's no cause for worry. We have decided to release seven more cheetahs, including two females, by the third week of June," Rajesh Gopal, the panel's chairman and the secretary general of the Global Tiger Forum, told PTI. "Of the 10 cheetahs still in the larger fenced acclimatisation camps, seven will be released. The three remaining ones are from Namibia's captive stock and more time is needed to rewild then," he said. The National Tiger Conservation Authority had on May 8 decided to release five more cheetahs (apart from the three already in the wild then) before the onset of the monsoon. Animals are generally not released into the wild during the monsoon season as harsh weather conditions make it difficult for them to find food and shelter and adapt to their new environment. The 11-member cheetah project steering committee set up recently met for the first time on Thursday at Kuno. https://m.timesofindia.com/india/seven-more-cheetahs-to-be-released-into-wild-at-kuno-national-park-by-june-third-week/amp_articleshow/100656726.cms?fbclid=IwAR3LuE_1paTLLLeDeXOmrGC3yaGx33X8vBURqT9KqhKUDP6wnMGz6xfgWXQ_aem_th_AWXXATluFazxcY8rvqYijwSV96s2c0L3oUy8p1U0QMjJPUgHECHoefg1dZoyyAEabRE&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Madhya Pradesh: Namibian Cheetah 'Dhatri' released into the wild
Female Cheetah ‘Dhatri’ (earlier known as Tablishi) was released into the wilds of Kuno National Park in Sheopur on Saturday morning. The Cheetah, brought from Namibia, has joined the group of seven cheetahs released earlier into the wild. Kuno National Park’s District Forest Officer Prakash Kumar Verma told Free Press that with the release of Cheetah Dhatri, the number of Cheetah in the wild has increased to eight. Now there are four female Dhatri, Gamini, Nirva and Asha and four male cheetahs and Saurya, Gaurav, Vayu and Agni Asha moving towards Shivpuri: ‘Asha’ had strayed into Madhav National Park of Shivpuri more than two weeks ago. “Now she has moved out of Madhav National Park and is heading towards Shivpuri. There is no problem until she moves within the limits of Madhya Pradesh. But if she heads towards the border of Uttar Pradesh then we have to think about bringing her back,” said an officer of Kuno. It is learnt that Asha is making the kills from time to time and is exploring the region by moving from one place to another. A team of forest officials is following her and keeping the senior officers updated about her movement. https://www.freepressjournal.in/amp/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-namibian-cheetah-dhatri-released-into-the-wild?fbclid=IwAR0-W7Wa04_n2J0IN_y85DoYMmEK2s9ZA9Kbx6fF5P_KTv98F-nm5dVmLi8_aem_AXlTUWsxcVxXWpPtcOGS2elB5-1JpZkBglqWoFncgaMZbVvFVcpyeWhNW7uQ9vu1ZjQ&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Cheetahs clash in MP's Kuno National Park: 'Rock Stars' triumph over 'White Walkers'
A fierce encounter took place between two cheetah coalitions in Kuno National Park, resulting in injuries and a clear victor. The confrontations were sparked by territorial disputes, including access to prey and local females. Experts from Project Cheetah had anticipated a showdown between the male coalitions due to the limited open spaces in the park and because both coalitions are seeking the same turf near their former enclosures. The clash marked the second encounter in as many weeks, with the first incident having been diffused by forest officials. However, this time, the confrontation escalated. The Namibian brothers, Guarav and Shaurya, known as "The Rock Stars," fiercely defended their territory against the South African coalition, Agni and Vayu, also known as "The White Walkers." The Namibian cheetahs emerged victorious, chasing away their challengers and inflicting serious injuries. Due to the severity of the injuries sustained by Agni and Vayu, the field teams swiftly transported them to the veterinarians at Kuno for treatment. Although battered and bloodied, it is expected that The White Walkers will survive and recover. The Rock Stars, Guarav and Shaurya, who earned their names from music-loving conservationists in Namibia, remained unharmed during the confrontation. This cheetah coalition, along with The White Walkers, play a crucial role in Project Cheetah as they contribute to the genetic diversity of India's cheetah population. The Rock Stars, Guarav and Shaurya, who earned their names from music-loving conservationists in Namibia, remained unharmed during the confrontation. This cheetah coalition, along with The White Walkers, play a crucial role in Project Cheetah as they contribute to the genetic diversity of India's cheetah population. Interestingly, Agni and Vayu were involved in the mating-related death of South African female cheetah, Dashka. However, their aggressive tactics proved unsuccessful against the dominance of Guarav and Shaurya, who demonstrated their prowess in the territorial dispute. Barthelemy Balli, Conservation Release Program Manager from Namibia's Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), has been present at Kuno National Park for the past two weeks, providing support to the field teams and assisting in the care of the surviving cub and other cheetahs within the park. Territorial fights among cheetahs are not uncommon, and the intervention of field teams and veterinary care significantly increases the chances of survival for injured animals. Infections resulting from wounds sustained during such conflicts can prove fatal for wildlife. The outcome of the clash has provided a definitive answer to those speculating about the dominant coalition at Kuno National Park - The Rock Stars reign supreme. https://m.timesofindia.com/city/bhopal/cheetah-coalitions-clash-namibian-rock-stars-triumph-over-south-african-challengers-in-madhya-pradeshs-kuno-national-park/amp_articleshow/101335367.cms?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR2k9Q5tKSoRD1UvQ-xEeOM6y1VYieDI5knpuDUqJ_0GgXs4m8QngPwMDgE_aem_AeHHOw0YiDE9qgP5JyoOuP_3FD9Kk3LPVfIyzel-F35hRIWtp_zPp0e4b4bJKbNfy2E
Straying cheetah kept in acclimatisation enclosure released into wild again at Kuno National Park
A male Namibian cheetah who was kept in an acclimatisation enclosure after he strayed out twice has once again been released into the wild at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP) here, an official said on Monday. The cheetah Oban, who was renamed Pawan, was tranquilised and brought back to KNP and kept in an acclimatisation enclosure on April 22 after he was about to cross over to neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, divisional forest officer (DFO) P K Verma told PTI. According to officials, earlier on April 6, the cheetah had escaped from KNP, spread over an area of around 750 sq km, and was brought back after being tranquilised. “After keeping him for a month in acclimatisation, we released him into the wild in the park on Sunday,” DFO Verma said. Currently, there are 10 cheetahs in the wild in the park, while seven are in the acclimatisation enclosure, he added. Twenty cheetahs were translocated to KNP from Namibia and South Africa in the last 10 months. Female cheetah Sasha from Namibia, aged more than four-and-a-half-years, died of a kidney ailment, while six-year-old male cheetah Uday translocated from South Africa died due to cardio-pulmonary failure on March 27 and April 23 respectively. The last female cheetah Daksha, who came with a batch of 12 predators from South Africa died in a fight with two males over mating on May 9. Another cheetah, named Siyaya, recently gave birth to four cubs, but lost three of them soon after. The project to reintroduce cheetahs in India was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year. The country's last cheetah died in Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952. https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/india/madhya-pradesh-straying-cheetah-kept-in-acclimatisation-enclosure-released-into-wild-again-at-kuno-national-park/cid/1949480?fbclid=IwAR2eJnVSl1HQ9avdl4QaOQq5SRfyQebYS5enzoBf7biCQvy-_HQ-MbYT0MY_aem_AdJvFPMb5WPGehadCVYunTtyvRkoAitteySDBP91LrhDFH-6dZ_tA8R9u9crWErkPGA&mibextid=S66gvF
MP: 2 more cheetahs released in KNP free range, count rises to 12
Two more cheetahs have been released into the wild at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, taking the count to 12, a senior forest official said on Tuesday. Eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were brought to the KNP and released into special enclosures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17 last year as part of an ambitious programme to reintroduce the species in India. Twelve more cheetahs – seven males and five females – were brought to the KNP from South Africa on February 18 this year. On Monday, two male cheetahs, Prabhash and Pavak, were released into the wild at the KNP, Sheopur’s Divisional Forest Officer P K Verma said. Both of them were brought to India from South Africa, the official said. Now, the number of cheetahs in free range has gone up to 12, while five felines and a cub are in the enclosures, he said. Six cheetahs, including three cubs born to cheetah Jwala, have died at the KNP since March. Cheetah Jwala gave birth to four cubs in March this year at the Kuno National Park. The last cheetah died in India in Koriya district in present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947, and the species was declared extinct from the country in 1952. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhopal/mp-2-more-cheetahs-released-in-knp-free-range-count-rises-to-12-8825442/lite/?fbclid=IwAR0t_V0fWrxvaDAIwDn6AycPDI8Vv3kq4mRK-00b-MIUFpOaml75OF-f2nA_aem_ASpufKKDigkN4JcPuxEIElPRhZMS_u59NCjlA1Xlw_DH4NmRriahcwmrV-RTo73mhB8&mibextid=S66gvF
Cheetah reintroduction ‘highly complex’, more sites needed as reserves, expert says
Even as a fourth of the cheetahs brought to India in September 2022 have died, cheetah expert Vincent van der Merwe said all is not lost and the “complex” Project Cheetah could still be successful. “Three cheetahs have been lost to the infection septicaemia, caused by winter coat and collar. Tblicy / Dhatri, the last female Namibian cheetah died of infection as she was skittish and could not be darted for capture and treatment,” said Merwe, who is the manager of Cheetah Metapopulation Project, The Metapopulation Initiative in South Africa said. But the deaths are not unusual. He cited the example of South Africa where over 200 cheetahs were lost over a span of 26 years to standardise reintroduction protocols and make it a success. “Between 1966 and 1996 nine out of 10 South African reintroduction attempts completely failed,” he said. Describing cheetah reintroduction as “highly complex”, Merwe said the project is difficult to succeed with a founding population of only 20 cheetahs and will continue to experience similar “growing pains”. Merwe said more mortality is expected before year-end. “An estimation of loss of 50 per cent of the founder population in the first year post-release is standard for wild cheetah reintroductions in unfenced areas. “More losses are anticipated in the second year of post-release as well,” he said. He added that the cheetahs would require time to adapt to Indian weather conditions as well. “In southern Africa, cheetahs often give birth in late summer or early autumn and if the litters are lost in the seasons, the replacement births are given in late winter or early spring,” he said. The expert said reintroduced female cheetahs are yet to adapt to opposite seasons in Asia and hence the mortality is expected to be high during initial years. He shared that Kuno National Park, which hosts all the cheetahs, must be treated like a sink reserve. “Two more sites are required and Gandhisagar and Nauradehi in Madhya Pradesh are being prepared for the same and are likely to be made available by the end of 2024,” he said. He said the fencing at these sites is being prepared, which would be able to hold 10 cheetahs. “Gandhisagar should be able to host two female and a male cheetah, while Nauradehi can accommodate four breeding female and a male cheetah. Chances of them surviving in those areas are higher given the drier weather conditions and fewer competing predators,” Merwe said. He added that for the project to be a success, patience and time are the essential elements before any conclusions are drawn. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-&-biodiversity/amp/cheetah-reintroduction-highly-complex-more-sites-needed-as-reserves-expert-says-91077?fbclid=IwAR35QjMCTaLSmsPjHAgizceAw8eceAWY_OtiBKpxfrPsoR-CsNWSn3smLVk_aem_AUnNMYsNBlwRCsomYVBuwuUwSDErt7pTdsAGQ5DM4fHYCi_rDMg-JJZp6CHOrGVryQY&mibextid=S66gvF
Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary to be new home for South African cheetahs
India plans to import cheetahs that do not develop thicker winter coats — a primary factor behind severe infections in some cheetahs and the death of three of them who [color=var(--linkcolor)]were relocated from Africa to India, according to the head of the reintroduction project.[/color] Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Project Cheetah in India last year by releasing a group of big cats brought from Namibia into an enclosure at Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park on September 17. Project Cheetah marks its one-year anniversary on Sunday. In an interview with PTI, SP Yadav, Additional Director General of Forests at the Environment Ministry, emphasised that the project's focus in its second year would be on breeding these animals. He[color=var(--linkcolor)] asserted that the radio collars cheetahs were made to wear did not cause any infections. However, authorities have decided to replace these collars with new ones from the same South African manufacturer.[/color] Yadav, also the chief of National Tiger Conservation Authority, said that the next batch of cheetahs will be imported from South Africa and introduced into Madhya Pradesh's Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, which will be ready to welcome the spotted felines by the end of the year. "It's mentioned in the Cheetah Action Plan that Kuno has a carrying capacity of about 20 cheetahs. Right now, there are 15 cheetahs including a cub, and when we bring the next batch of cheetahs into the country, it will be in some other place. We are preparing two such sites in Madhya Pradesh, one is the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, and the other is Nauradehi. "The site preparation at the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is going in full swing. I'm expecting that it will be completed by the end of November or December. Once we get the report of completion, we'll go to the site, we'll evaluate it from all preparation points of view. And after December, we'll take a call on bringing cheetahs," he said. WINTER COATS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES Yadav acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges faced in the first year of managing cheetahs in India was the unexpected development of winter coats by some cheetahs during the Indian summer and monsoon, in anticipation of the African winter (June to September). Even African experts did not expect it, the senior forest official said. Yadav explained that the winter coat, combined with high humidity and temperatures, caused itching, prompting the animals to scratch their necks on tree trunks or the ground. This led to bruises and exposed skin, where flies laid their eggs, resulting in maggot infestations and, ultimately, bacterial infections and septicemia, leading to death. "Some cheetahs did not develop winter coats and remained infection-free. They are better suited to Indian conditions. Therefore, in our next cheetah import, we will be very careful in animal selection. We will prefer animals that either do not develop winter coats or develop thinner ones," the head of Project Cheetah said. Yadav said one of the most significant achievements of the first year of the project was the successful natural hunting behaviour observed among the cheetahs in the wild. "They have demonstrated great skill at hunting, protecting their kills, and adapting to the environment. These indications are extremely encouraging, and I believe we have accomplished numerous milestones within just one year of completing Project Cheetah," he said. Asked about the project's focus in its second year, he said, "The first thing that comes to my mind is the breeding of cheetahs. And if we can expect more litter, the cubs born on Indian soil can better adapt to Indian situations. Once the breeding takes place, we will understand how the population will behave in our country. So, the main thing next year will be more cubs on the soil of Bharat." Under the much-vaunted Project Cheetah, a total of 20 animals were imported from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno in two batches -- one in September last year and the second in February this year. Since March, six of these adult cheetahs have died for various reasons. In May, three of the four cubs born to a female Namibian cheetah succumbed to extreme heat. The remaining cub is being raised under human care for future wildlings. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/project-cheetah-2nd-year-kuno-national-park-focus-on-breeding-selection-strategies-2436512-2023-09-16?fbclid=IwAR2f5PStPhuLzTSvNVcrCvAKnol-3oe3Fo6dvrvMyLrIIrmAoE4CGq6kpr8_aem_Af4Odw7b3ZpykKzFTjhzJeua32U206H8amU9L6ZWd5W8dVTaExsh7w3b8D1yYQvPzUs&mibextid=Zxz2cZ#lmlx6en980yiakw746
Check out the latest pdf report on the cheetah project in India. Check out the latest one in 2023.
https://ntca.gov.in/assets/uploads/Repor...Report.pdf *This image is copyright of its original author
Based on first year of Project Cheetah in India and updated information from this journal https://ntca.gov.in/assets/uploads/Repor...Report.pdf. Here is a new updated list of Indian species cheetahs preyed upon in Kuno National park and and other surrounding areas.
1. Chital (67%) 2. Chowsingha (15%) 3. Blackbuck (8%) 4. Sambar (4%) 5. Chinkara (2%) 6. Hare (2%) 7. Nilgai (2%)
Centre approves setting up cheetah breeding centre in Banni Grassland in Kutch
The Gujarat government on Friday said that the central government has approved setting up a cheetah breeding and conservation centre in Banni Grassland, a reserved forest spread over 2,618 sq km in Kutch district. The government said a proposal had been sent to the centre which has been accepted. State Forest Minister Mulubhai Bera in a statement said that to support the restoration of the cheetah population in the country, the state government had prepared a proposal under the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Authority (National CAMPA) for using Banni Grassland as one of the centres. He said that the proposal was accepted by the central government in a meeting held on Friday. Bera further said that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would monitor the progress of the project. The Minister noted that in the past, Banni Grassland used to be the habitat of cheetahs, which became extinct over time. He added that proposals in this regard had been sent to the central government previously as well. With this approval, he said, the grassland would become a home to cheetahs. The minister also pointed out that the cheetah population would attract tourists to Kutch district, which is emerging as a tourist hotspot. Banni Grassland, considered one of the finest, spans 2,618 sq km and is located along the northern border of Kutch. It is also home to 40,000 Maldharis, a pastoral community known for rearing high-yielding buffaloes and cows. The grassland is facing encroachment due to increased agricultural activities. Banni comprises grassland and wetlands with rich flora and fauna. Research estimates indicate approximately 200 species of plants, 250 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. As part of the reintroduction of cheetahs under the Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India, the central government has prioritized four former cheetah range states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Under the scheme, about 20 cheetahs were imported from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. However, nine of them are reported to have died. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/gujarat/centre-approves-setting-up-cheetah-breeding-centre-in-banni-grassland-in-kutch-2803744
MP: Two cheetahs released in tourist zone of Kuno National Park
Bhopal: Two male cheetahs were released in the tourist zone of the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, an official said. The cheetahs Agni and Vayu were released in the Parond forest range, which falls under the Ahera tourism zone of the national park, an official release issued by the chief conservator of forest (tiger project) stated. Tourists can now catch a glimpse of the cheetahs, it stated. Fifteen cheetahs (seven male, seven female and a cub) were kept in bomas (enclosures) in the KNP since August this year as a team of veterinarians monitored their health. Six adult cheetahs have died since March due to various reasons, taking the total death count of felines, including three cubs, to nine. Under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project, eight Namibian cheetahs — five female and three male — were released into enclosures at the KNP on September 17, 2022. In February this year, 12 more cheetahs arrived at the national park from South Africa. In March, four cubs were born to a Namibian cheetah named Jwala, of which three died in May. https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india/madhya-pradesh/mp-two-cheetahs-released-in-tourist-zone-of-kuno-national-park-2814834 |
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