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Cheetah Reintroduction in India

Ashutosh Offline
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From the evidence we have about Cheetah cubs, it appears that a very high percentage of cubs are killed by bigger predators in Africa and they have an absurdly high mortality rate of 90%. You don’t want them to be reintroduced only for other animals to target such cubs especially at 90% mortality rate. So, ideally Cheetahs should be introduced in areas with low numbers of big predators preferably away from habitats or potential habitats of any big cats. Personally, Desert national park seems like an ideal starting place. 

The preferred prey of Indian cheetahs used to be Blackbuck and Chinkara, both of whom I am guessing have dropped in their speed and manoeuvrability over the last century. And, both these are abundantly found in the Desert National Park.
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BorneanTiger Offline
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(07-25-2019, 09:01 AM)Wild Warrior Wrote:
(05-15-2014, 02:38 AM)Pckts Wrote: Indian cheetahs are probably just african cheetahs.

Indian cheetahs and Asiatic cheetahs are one and the same. The cheetah species is extinct in India but a small population struggling to survive in Iran. Click on this link:

https://grandnr.com/asiatic-cheetah-is-t...cies-near/

Do see this new thread on Asiatic cheetahs (from India as well as other areas, including the Middle East).
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BorneanTiger Offline
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( This post was last modified: 09-18-2019, 10:27 AM by BorneanTiger )

(04-18-2019, 01:47 PM)Sanju Wrote:
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Do see this new thread on the Asiatic cheetah.
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Sanju Offline
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https://www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...MZawBlMybY
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Ashutosh Offline
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Got some breaking news on this issue. A major stumbling block in the reintroduction of African Cheetahs into India was the Supreme Court which ruled that they were distinct species and there should be no reintroduction.

Today, the apex court reversed it’s judgement and asked the NTCA to identify a proper habitat and under it’s supervision has asked for an update every 4 months.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sc-allows-centre-to-bring-african-cheetah-to-suitable-wildlife-habitat-in-india/articleshow/73690054.cms
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Rishi Offline
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Explained: To import cheetahs, or not to
Decades after the cheetah went extinct in India, SC has cleared a proposal for importing a few from Africa. It throws the spotlight on the cheetahs’ future, impact on indigenous species, and translocation of lions. Jairam Ramesh, then Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge), at the Cheetah Outreach Centre near Cape Town in April 2010, during a visit to discuss cheetah translocation from South Africa to India. 

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The Supreme Court’s recently gave green light to introduction of African cheetahs in a suitable area in India in January 2020 which has revived a decade-long debate over the controversial plan first floated in 2009 and shot down by the court in 2013.

The apex court set up a 3-member committee, comprising former director Wildlife of India Ranjit Singh, DG of Wildlife of India Dhananjay Mohan, and DIG, Wildlife, Ministry of Environment and Forests to guide the NTCA in taking a decision on the issue. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant said the apex court will monitor the project and the committee will submit its report before it every 4 months.

The top court also said the decision for relocation of the African cheetah will be taken after a proper survey and the action of introduction of the animal will be left to the NTCA’s discretion. NCTA will be guided by the committee of experts who will carry out a survey for the best location.
It was submitted before the apex court that the African cheetah will be introduced on an experimental basis in the best suitable habitat, to see whether or not it can adapt to Indian conditions.

The dream

The last cheetahs in the Indian wild were gunned down in 1950s. The few stragglers surviving in captivity perished soon after, making it the only large carnivore to have gone extinct in India.

The popular appeal of having cheetahs back in the Indian wild was not lost on the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh who, in 2009, cleared a proposal from Dr M K Ranjitsinh, India’s first director of wildlife during the 1970s, and Dr Y V Jhala, scientist with Wildlife Institute of India, to import a few.

Iran refused to (at this point, can't afford to) part with any of its few surviving Asiatic cheetahs other than in exchange of Asiatic lions, the focus turned to the African variety. At a meeting attended by international experts in September 2009, wildlife geneticist Stephen O’Brien maintained that the Asian and African cheetahs were genetically somewhat similar, and Dr Laurie Marker, head of Namibia-based Cheetah Conservation Fund, offered to help bring in African cheetahs “in stages over the next decade, possibly starting in early 2012”.
By September 2010, India’s cheetah plan was ready and the Centre approved Rs 50 crore for the programme in August 2011.

The matter came up before the Supreme Court during a hearing on shifting a few lions from Gujarat to Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, which was also one of the sites identified for releasing cheetahs.

In May 2012, the court stayed the cheetah plan, and in April 2013, it ordered translocation of lions from Gujarat while quashing the plan for introducing African cheetahs to Kuno-Palpur.

The design

The cheetah plan was revived in 2017 when the government sought permission from the Supreme Court to explore possibilities “in conformity with the applicable law to reintroduce cheetahs from Africa to suitable sites” other than Kuno-Palpur. By then, the lion translocation project was put on the back-burner again as te third National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031) released in 2017 said that the identification of an alternative home and drawing up a conservation plan for the Asiatic lion will be completed during 2018-2021.

It is unlikely though that Kuno will get cheetahs of it indeed manages to house lions someday, given that unlike vast sanannas available in Africa, India's grassland habitat is quite limited. Also much of said grasslands that were created by relocating villages have naturally progressed to woodlands not suitable for the African import. While the sanctuary has spotted deer and feral cattle in good numbers, there is barely any presence of the four-horned antelope, chinkara or blackbuck – all potential prey for the cheetah.
With Rajasthan not too keen on cheetahs for Shahgarh in Jaisalmer, and Gujarat’s pitch for Kutch’s Banni grasslands not finding favour, Nauradehi in Madhya Pradesh leads the race to play host to the first batch of imported animals.

The argument

In saving the cheetah, claimed the proponents of the reintroduction plan, it could also save other endangered species of the grassland, such as the endangered Indian wolf and the near-extinct great Indian bustard (GIB). In the umbrella-approach of conservation, multiple species in a forest (tiger reserve, for instance) is protected in the name of a flagship species (i.e. tiger). It is inexplicable, though, as to why one must introduce an exotic replacement for an extinct species to save indigenous species.


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Wolves, for example, are the keystone species in Nauradehi and would have to compete with cheetahs. Not to mention they are reintroducing tigers there whose prey prefer grasslands if available. Other than that, unlike Africa, grasslands in India has a tendency to grow upto 1 metre tall, more suitable for ambush creditors than sprinters.

The majestic GIB is a potential prey for the cheetah. In fact, the project excluded Jaisalmer’s Desert National Park because “putting the cheetah in with the bustard cannot be contemplated at all, because of the threat to this most gravely endangered bird”. And yet, it recommended erstwhile GIB habitats for the cheetah, in effect denying the bird any chance of habitat recovery.

The priority

The GIB is not the only species staring down the barrel. The government has identified 20 others – such as the Asian wild buffalo, Jerdon’s courser, red panda and Asiatic lion – that need immediate help, ie, active intervention, to survive.

Barring 50 reserves under Project Tiger, all wildlife habitats of the country and the 21 beleaguered species merited a total allocation of Rs 497 crore between 2017-18 and 2019-20. That is Rs 166 crore a year.

A decade ago, the cost of the cheetah project was pegged at Rs 300 crore in the first year alone. In Nauradehi, merely constructing a 150-sq km cheetah enclosure will cost Rs 25-30 crore. To this, compare the recent sanctions of Rs 5 lakh for the Greater adjutant in Gangetic riverine tract in Bhagalpur, Bihar; Rs 1.22 crore for establishing a conservation breeding centre for wild buffaloes in Chhattisgarh; or Rs 3.87 crore for a snow leopard recovery programme in Ladakh.

This raises several questions. Can India’s meagre conservation resources afford to splurge on hosting a few imported animals? Even if the cheetah programme finds an international sponsor, should India’s understaffed and inadequate wildlife management cadre be stretched for a vanity project? Even if a few African cheetahs survive, as they well might inside an enclosure and supplied with prey, what conservation purpose will they serve? And what future will they have once out in the open in a country teeming with people, livestock and feral dogs?

The 3-member expert panel will examine these issues in the next 4 months for the government to reach a considered decision. Meanwhile, as the policy dash for the fastest land animal is being cheered, the lions are running out of room.
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Rishi Offline
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( This post was last modified: 03-05-2020, 10:11 AM by Rishi )

Gujarat leads on hosting Cheetah
Other states in queue are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

3rd March 2020 


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NEW DELHI: With the Supreme Court giving go ahead for re-introduction of Cheetah from Africa, that got extinct nearly seven decades ago, Gujarat has already approached the Centre to host the big cat alongside Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh. A top environment ministry official said that Gujarat is “very keen” to host the fastest animal on earth and has already approached the ministry to consider it for the re-introduction. However, the final call will be taken by Supreme Court -appointed committee headed by M K Ranjitsinh, a renowned wildlife conservationist.  

“Initially, Kuno-Palpur was selected as the habitat for Cheetah re-introduction and now we were told that the delay of 10 years has impacted the habitat and has deteriorated along with prey base,” said the environment ministry official.
The official said that the committee will relook into all aspects — scientific study of likely survival of the cheetah and habitat where it can survive.  “Gujarat is very likely to be shortlisted for reintroduction of Cheetahs. We are ready to implement but the decision has to come from the committee. What kind of habitat and compatibility as leopard and tigers coexists but cheetah and tiger may not coexist,” the official added.

Incidentally, The National Green Tribunal heard a case filed by Banni Breeder Association against non-forest activities taking place in the protected forest of Kutch district. In July 2019, it had directed the Gujarat government to complete demarcation of Banni Grasslands within 4 months and submit a report to the tribunal.
A working plan of Banni Protected Forest was issued in 2009 by the Gujarat FD, which had also been approved by MoEF & CC. The total area came out to be 3,487 km².

Gujarat is the only abode of Asiatic Lions in the world. Despite a Supreme Court order on lion translocation to Madhya Pradesh, the state has remained averse to part with them, finding loopholes & delaying translocation for almost a decade.
Ranjitsinh says that he is expected to meet Union Environment minister Prakash Javadekar following  SC order & convene meeting of the 4-member committee. “Cheetah will come to India with certain conditions and when you bring from Africa, you will lose some species definitely. We have to revisit the areas (habitat) and do the entire exercise dispassionately and not on basis of states showing interest,” added Ranjitsinh. The last cheetah in India was reportedly hunted in 1947 by Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo in Surguja, Madhya Pradesh (now in Chhattisgarh). The plan to reintroduce was initiated by then environment minister Jairam Ramesh.

Landscapes suggested by WII report
  • Chhattisgarh: Guru Ghasidas National Park (already tiger reserve). 
  • Gujarat: Banni Grasslands (India's largest grassland, no co-predator except wolves). 
  • Madhya  Pradesh: Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanjay National Park, Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary, Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary (threats like tigers & leopards as well as wolves, dholes, bears present). 
  • Rajasthan: Desert National Park & Shahgarh Grasslands (last home to critically endangered Great Indian Bustards).
  • Uttar Pradesh: Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (in a horrendous condition).
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Virgin Islands, U.S. Rage2277 Offline
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yup gujurat is a good starting point..from there they can send cheetah to other areas with more competition
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Virgin Islands, U.S. Rage2277 Offline
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‘Introducing African Cheetah In India Challenging, But Worth Trying’
Rishika Pardikar
 March 12, 2020


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Noida“It is a challenging project but it is worth trying [rather] than saying it is difficult and not doing it at all,” M K Ranjitsinh, a retired Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer and the former director of Wildlife Preservation, told IndiaSpend, on the plan to introduce the African cheetah to India. 

After being hunted extensively, cheetahs were declared locally extinct in India in 1952. 

On January 28, 2020, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered that African cheetahs be introduced “on an experimental basis in a careful [sic] chosen habitat and nurtured to see whether it can adapt to the Indian conditions”. The order was in response to an application filed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority seeking permission to “re-introduce cheetahs from Africa to suitable sites in India”.

“It would focus attention on the conservation of our neglected grasslands and our open forests just like tiger conservation has led to the protection of our forested national parks and sanctuaries,” the NTCA had noted in the application. “It would also enable the conservation of such gravely endangered species occurring only in grasslands and open forests, such as the wolf, desert cat, desert fox and the great Indian bustard.” 

This experiment will be guided by a committee of experts, headed by Ranjitsinh, who is also the principal author of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

“When I was drafting the Wildlife [Protection] Act, they said it couldn’t be done. It was done,” Ranjitsinh said. “When we started Project Crocodile, they said it is very difficult… again, it was done. When we started Project Tiger, there were people who were pessimistic but it was done. So, challenges are there but they have to be met and what matters is political support--at both the Central and the State level.” 

IndiaSpend spoke with Ranjitsinh about the reasons for the introduction of the African cheetah, sites in Africa from where the cheetah could be transported, potential sites in India for the introduction and more. Edited excerpts:

The biggest motivation for this plan seems to be the hope that cheetahs will act as a flagship species for conserving India’s grasslands and the various other species that inhabit such grasslands. Could you elaborate on this?

Restoration of a species is the restoration of an ecosystem. This same method was used in the case of tigers, snow leopards and crocodiles. In the process of conserving these species, something far more valuable was conserved. Today, we are focussed on the tiger and on the forest. What about the mountains, the grasslands and the wetlands? What about coastal areas where we have whale sharks? You take up flagship species to focus on different ecotypes and biomes. We use this because, in India, symbolism matters a great deal. 

Today, the tiger is an icon. Why can’t there be other icons? The tiger doesn’t cover the different natural ecosystems in the country. We talk about incredible India and its biodiversity. Does this only mean lion, tigers, elephants and rhinos? 

Grasslands are very productive ecosystems and this is important because India has the highest cattle population in the world and all of these are free-grazing animals. But grasslands have been used and abused over the years. We have a forest policy but we don’t have a grassland policy. Some of our most endangered species are grassland species like the caracal, which is the biggest of the small cat species. No one knows about caracals. They are found in Kutch and maybe in the northern parts of Ranthambore National Park and are less than 100 in number. There are also other grassland species like the Great Indian Bustard that need attention. 

In the process of getting cheetahs, if we assess our grasslands and work on them to make them suitable for the introduction, we will have already achieved a lot.

We also need to focus on grassland-forest mosaics. Cheetahs can survive in both grasslands and grassland-forest mosaics. 

Why are we bringing African cheetahs and not Asiatic ones from Iran? 

The Asiatic cheetahs are not available as of now. The plan to bring cheetahs from Iran fell through way back in the 1970s. Many political changes occurred then… Indira Gandhi fell from power, the Shah of Iran was removed, the Ayatollahs took over and Iran slowly lost its cheetahs because of a lack of political will and enthusiasm. The cheetah population dropped from over 250 in the 1970s to 26 or 28, as of two-three years ago. 

The Supreme Court said that the word “re-introduce” is not appropriate in the present context given that African cheetahs never inhabited the Indian landscape. This is why it is being termed an “introduction”. Some argue that conservation money is being poured into African cheetahs when these are not native to India. Your comments?

No. All cheetahs are one species with many subspecies. So, in the context of cheetahs, the plan is for reintroduction. For the African subspecies, you may call it an introduction. 

[Asiatic cheetahs are native to India but were hunted out of existence by the early 1950s.]

Which are the sites in Africa from where the cheetahs are being brought in?

We are looking at the northeastern population of African cheetahs because there is a belief that they are genetically nearer to the Asiatic cheetahs. We are open to exploring if this is true. If this does not work then the next option is southern Africa. 

How many cheetahs will be brought into India?

Initially, we thought we would get 10 cheetahs to begin with and get them acclimatised. We don’t yet know how many in total. What is important is an assured supply in the future.

What is the budget for the plan and who is paying for it?

We are currently working out a short-term budget for the initial survey etc. and a separate long-term annual budget. I cannot give an estimate of these figures but I can assure you that it is not a very expensive affair.

The project will be funded by the central government and the state government(s) concerned.

Which are the parks or sanctuaries in India where the cheetahs will be introduced?

In Madhya Pradesh, the potential sites are Kuno National Park and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. In Rajasthan, it is the Shahgarh area in Jaisalmer district. We may also look at other sites, especially if the state governments put up suggestions… we will assess these for feasibility. 

What are the other big cat species that are present in these areas as of today? I know that Madhya Pradesh has leopards.

There are no big cats in Shahgarh. I don’t see leopards as being a problem but tigers might pose some issues. There may be a few stray tigers in Madhya Pradesh and we will assess the risks and try to ensure that conflict is minimised.

What is the exact assessment plan and what are the various stages?

This is a long-drawn process. We have to first conduct an assessment of potential sites in India and simultaneously, we will review sites in Africa from where the cheetahs can be brought. 

Ten years ago, we had assessed some sites in India for such a plan. Now, these sites will have to be re-assessed because situations might have changed. Based on these assessments, we will make a priority list and also check what work is required to be done on the ground to make conditions suitable for cheetah introduction and by when the parks will be ready. 

There will always be a risk and we want to minimise the risk as much as possible. Look, it is a challenging project but it is worth trying [rather] than saying it is difficult and not doing it at all. When I was drafting the Wildlife Protection Act, they said it couldn’t be done. It was done. When we started Project Crocodile, they said it is very difficult… again, it was done. When we started Project Tiger, there were people who were pessimistic, but it was done. So, challenges are there but they have to be met and what matters is political support--at both the central and the state level. 

Have such introduction/reintroduction plans been carried out before?

There have been many reintroductions in southern and eastern Africa but it has not been done in Asia before. We are in touch with experts from Africa who have facilitated such processes before. 

Plans to find a second home for Gujarat's lions, most likely in Madhya Pradesh, have been on hold since 2013. This translocation is urgent given the threat posed by diseases such as canine distemper--in 2018, 24 lions died within a month because of this virus. Do you think cheetah introduction plans will hamper efforts to translocate lions into the same landscape? Do you see a lion-cheetah conflict?

No, not at all. If the cheetah is introduced first and it establishes its territory, other big cats can come in later. In Africa, the practice is that small predators are introduced first and then the larger ones and this works. Territory doesn’t necessarily have to belong exclusively to one of these species.

There has been enough politics over these lion and cheetah plans and we are trying to keep the two plans separate. Specific questions about lion translocation plans are better put forth to the government of India. 
https://www.indiaspend.com/introducing-african-cheetah-in-india-challenging-but-worth-trying/?fbclid=IwAR1Ft989N5aILG8jBshgF-USwPk5xsRI9uc74AZlh7uFd__MLrULFCIgHeA
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MP jungles in the reckoning as African Cheetah’s Indian home


BHOPAL: The three-member committee looking for suitable jungle to introduce Cheetah in India will "re-assess all the probable sites" including Nauradehi sanctuary in Madhya Pradeshrecommended last year by the 
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as home for this smallest of the big cat declared extinct in 1952 in the country.

The Supreme Court on January 28 this year allowed the centre to introduce the African cheetah to a suitable habitat in India. The apex court set up a three-member committee, comprising former director Wildlife of India Ranjit Singh, DG of Wildlife of India Dhananjay Mohan, and DIG, Wildlife, ministry of environment and forests to guide the NTCA in taking a decision on the issue. 

One year back, when the matter had come up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices S A Bobde and Deepak Gupta, a counsel of NTCA told the court that "We are suggesting Nauradehi sanctuary in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh (for keeping cheetahs)". 

On January 28 this year, a bench comprising chief justice SA Bobde and justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant said the decision for relocation of the African cheetah will be taken after a proper survey and the action of introduction of the animal will be left to the NTCA's discretion.

Talking to TOI exclusively, Ranjit Singh said, "Nauradehi is very much on the anvil but everything has to be reassessed."

“This is a big challenge and we don’t want to fail", he said showing the cautious approach of the expert committee. 

He said that the committee would reassess all the sites( jungles) , the old ones and new sits as well. "Besides Kuno Palpur and Nauradehi , we may also look for other sites of MP if the government wishes so." 

To a question about deadline for the reassessment, the former director of Wildlife Institute of India and a former IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh , Singh said, “ there was no deadline, it’s a long drawn process, it is not flash by night and it’s a big challenge.” 



Meanwhile, MP is ready to showcase Nauradehi, the largest sanctuary of the state spread over four districts of Damoh, Sagar, Raisen and Narsinghpur .  

Principal chief conservator of Forest ( wildlife) Rajesh Shrivastava said, "Nauradehi and Kuno Palpur are much better now. There is no village left inside Kuno but there are 53 in Nauradehi." 

He said that five of them would be translocated by March-April and others will follow. 

"Besides health hazards,the living conditions are very harsh inside the jungle in absence of basic amenities, shifting of villages depends on the willingness of the villagers. This is on our priority list”, he said. 

While reassessing the suitable sites, the expert committee of the Supreme Court will also look into the details of the habitat, presence of other predator, the prey base and the human presence and pressure among others. 

Besides healthy prey base, there are 3 tigers in Nauradehi. Shrivastava said, "if Nauradehi is selected for the introduction of Cheetah , the tigers can be translocated to some other jungle." 


https://m.timesofindia.com/city/bhopal/mp-jungles-in-the-reckoning-as-african-cheetahs-indian-home/articleshow/74341010.cms
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Velavadar National Park: an exercise to relocate a completely extinct cheetah from the country

Publish Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2020 08:30 PM (IST)

Arvind Pandey. new Delhi. Wildlife experts are on the hunt for Mufid Thaur in the midst of an attempt to resettle the completely extinct cheetah from the country. Currently, the most suitable place for cheetahs found in them is Velavadar National Park in Gujarat. Which is currently identified as Blackbuck Sanctuary. Which is also the favorite food of the cheetah. In such a situation, it can be considered as the new home of the cheetah. Apart from this, the eyes are on some other sanctuaries. Two of them are also from Madhya Pradesh.


A meeting was held under the direction of the Supreme Court to resettle the cheetah in the country. 

Meanwhile, a three-member committee constituted by the Supreme Court, headed by wildlife expert Dr MK Ranjit Singh, has also held its first meeting on March 6 to rehabilitate the cheetah in the country. Which took place at the headquarters of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The main focus was on the proper location of the cheetah. 

20 cheetahs will be brought from Namibia in Africa

In the meantime there was a discussion about all the suitable sanctuaries for the cheetah. Also asked for details of all these from NTCA. According to sources, a total of 20 cheetahs will be brought under Namibia from Africa under the scheme. However, only three to four will be brought in the first lot.

Cheetah's favorite place in the meeting was called Velavadar National Park in Gujarat. 

According to sources, the sanctuary which has been discussed the most in view of the choice of cheetah, includes Velavadar National Park in Gujarat. The park is currently flat and has a good grassland. Which is suitable for filling cheetah races. Also, Black Buck is also the most favorite cheetah food in them. 

Three more sanctuaries are in focus, but locals are opposed to cheetah settlement

Along with this, the other three sanctuaries which are focused on are the Kuno Palpur and Nauradehi Sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh. Among them, Kuno Palpur is more suited to Cheetah, but many wildlife experts and locals are also opposing settling Cheetah there. He says that it has been developed in terms of Asian lions. Along with this, its dispute is still pending in the Supreme Court.

No decision will be taken in a hurry regarding cheetah settlement 

The presence of villages around Nauradehi Sanctuary is also causing concern for wildlife. In any case, the government which has suffered the displacement of villages in Koons, does not want to get caught in them. Along with this, focus is also on Shahgarh in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. At present, no decision will be taken in a hurry. Studies are also being done around the world to study the habitat of wildlife.  

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https://m.jagran.com/news/national-velavadar-national-park-attempt-to-resettle-completely-extinct-cheetah-from-country-20098704.html
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Chief Warden discusses plans to bring Cheetah from Africa in Rawatbhata (rajasthan)

The plan to bring the Cheetah from Africa to Rawatbhata, the Chief Warden discussed, is deserted from Eklingpura in the city to Gandisagar. There is no dense forest here. This area is one of the most ...

Mar 12, 2020, 10:35 AM IST

The forest from Eklingpura to Gandisagar is deserted. There is no dense forest here. The Chief Warden of the state, Arindam Tomar, visited Rawatbhata to see if this area is the most suitable for cheetahs. Leopard is to be brought from Africa. Former minister and MLA Bharat Singh had described the region as the most suitable. 

Forest officials said that 12 years ago, visiting forest experts considered it suitable for cheetah points. The Chief Warden has asked the forest officials for a full report on this. It will be reported in the next few days, after that it will be decided whether the cheetah can be released in Rawatbhata. 

Emphasis on conservation of boisterous:

Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, forest department of otters present in Jawaharsagar dam will be surveyed. Rajasthan's Forest Chief Warden Arindam Tomar visited Rawatbhata and instructed the forest officials to pay attention to the conservation of Udablav. Mark their safe places. Regarding how their numbers will increase, he also asked the forest department to prepare. Efforts will be made to increase the breeding of the cats by providing access to food at their identified locations. CCF Anand Mohan, Kota DFO Biju Jai, Forest Officer Dinesh Nath were present. Forest worker Premakanwar also gave a presentation of the Uddavas tour in the area.

Translated from google

https://www.bhaskar.com/rajasthan/zila-news/news/rajasthan-news-chief-warden-discusses-plans-to-bring-cheetah-from-africa-in-rawatbhata-103531-6820452.html
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Rajasthan, Gujarat look to beat MP in hosting cheetahs

Updated: Feb 02, 2020 23:49 IST
By Chetan Chauhan and Ranjan , Hindustan Times, New Delhi/Bhopal



Rajasthan and Gujarat are hoping the African cheetah would be introduced to suitable habitats in the two states as one of the three places--Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary--chosen for the purpose a decade back may no longer be suitable for it in the absence of necessities like a proper prey base.

The Supreme Court last week allowed the Centre to take a call on the introduction after the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) sought its permission for introducing the cheetah from Namibia. The top court had put on hold the plan when then Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh envisaged it almost 10 years back. The last Indian cheetah became extinct around 70 years back.

Madhya Pradesh officials said Kuno Palpur now has a tiger, lesser grasslands and fewer chinkara and blackbucks, the prey base necessary for the survival the Cheetah, the fastest animal on the planet. Their counterparts in Gujarat and Rajasthan insisted habitats in their states having better grasslands and better prey base.


An expert panel had selected Kuno Palpur, Gujarat’s Velavadar Black Buck Sanctuary and National Park and Tal Chhapar Sanctuary (Rajasthan) for the African cheetah’s introduction. 

Madhya Pradesh’s additional principal chief forest conservator (wildlife), J S Chauhan, said they will welcome the decision if a Supreme Court-appointed panel selects Kuno Palpur for the cheetah’s introduction. But he added the task of creating an African savanna-like ecosystem is not easy. “It will take a lot of time. We are well equipped to do it as we did it efficiently in Kuno Palpur earlier to make it a suitable habitat for lions proposed to be brought from Gujarat.”



Chauhan cited the presence of a tiger in Kuno Palpur unlike in 2010 and added large parts of the sanctuary are now wooded. “We do not know how the tiger will react to the presence of a carnivore like a cheetah. Another challenge will have to maintain genetic diversity. A relocation of just a couple of cheetahs will not do. We will have to bring more cheetahs later to ensure the genetic diversity of cheetahs,” he said. 


Genetic diversity helps a species to adapt to changing environments.

Madhya Pradesh’s forest department wrote to the NTCA in August 2018 seeking the cheetah’s introduction to Nauradehi Sanctuary, calling it a more feasible site. Officials said the move indicated the state government was no more keen on introducing the cheetah to Kuno Palpur because of changes to its ecological biodiversity.



“If we agree to cheetahs in Kuno, our claim to have lions from Gir National Park in Gujarat would weaken,” a Madhya Pradesh forest department official said on condition of anonymity.


Translocation of Gir lions to Kuno Palpur was proposed as part of an Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project in 1995 to prevent threats of epidemics, natural disasters and to create another sanctuary for them. Gujarat has been opposing the proposed shifting. 

Retired forest conservator Jagdish Chandra said cheetahs have been indigenous to Madhya Pradesh and were spotted in the Gwalior region about seven decades back. He added cheetahs and lions can coexist.



Environmentalist Ajay Dubey said the cheetah relocation project will succeed in Madhya Pradesh as the region was home to cheetahs before 1950. “But this cannot succeed until there is good grassland management and prey base available for the cheetahs.”


Rajasthan and Gujarat’s forest officials said they were very keen on getting cheetahs. A Gujarat official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said their state provides several options for the cheetah relocation. “We have huge grassland habitats in the state’s western part which could be developed into a natural habitat for the cheetah. Velavadar is one of them,” the official said. 

Experts agreed Velavadar has a bright chance given its good savanna grasslands that are necessary for the survival of the cheetahs. 



Mumbai-based Wildlife Conservation Trust president, Anish Andheria, said Velavadar also has adequate blackbuck population, the prey for cheetahs, and enough open spaces for them to catch them. 


But Andheria pointed out the park in Bhavnagar district is spread over only about 35 square km and its expansion would not be easy as it is surrounded by densely populated villages.  

Rajasthan’s chief wildlife warden, Arindam Tomar, said they were looking for habitats apart from Tal Chappar where cheetahs can be introduced.



Another forest official said Tal Chappar may not be developed into a good habitat as it is very small. But he added they have other strong options. “Alternatively, Desert National Park [Jaisalmer] spread over an area of about 100 square km with adequate prey base of blackbucks can be developed for the cheetah introduction,” the official said on condition of anonymity. He added the Desert National Park has good savanna grasslands.


Forest officials from the three states said that they would make presentations before the Supreme Court’s expert committee to stake their claims for habitat for the cheetah introduction. 

M K Ranjitsinh, who has been appointed as the panel’s head, said they would revisit the previously selected possible cheetah habitats before recommending a name to the Supreme Court for the cheetah introduction.

(With inputs from Sachin Saini in Jaipur)



https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/raj-gujarat-look-to-beatmp-in-hosting-cheetahs/story-Ne316RB94hd5rtTGljOzWM.html 
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State committee will come to explore the possibilities of African cheetahs

Sheopur In order to settle African cheetahs in India, the state government has also started preparations after the Supreme Court passed the order in the project built 10 years ago. Under this, apart from the committee set up by the Supreme Court, the State Government has also constituted a state committee, which will explore possibilities of cheetah in the Coono National Park of Sheopur in the coming days.

This committee will come to Sheopur this month and take a tour of the Kuno National Park along with an overview of the project built in that time and will also take stock of the ground systems. For this, a letter from the Government level has also come to the Kuno forest division. Although the dates have not been decided yet, first the state committee will come to Kuno, after that the committee constituted by the Supreme Court will visit.

The committee constituted by Madhya Pradesh includes APCCF Jasvir Singh Chauhan, Project Officer Pench Vikram Singh, DFO Norodehi and SFRI Professor Anirudh Majumdar. This committee will assess the compatibility of African cheetahs in the sanctuary of Naurodehi in Madhya Pradesh as well as in Kuno.

Report to Supreme Court in four months

The Supreme Court has given permission to bring African cheetahs to India on January 28. The Supreme Court, in its order, has allowed cheetahs to be introduced in one of Rajasthan's sanctuaries, including the state's Kuno National Park and Nourodehi, for which a three-member committee has been set up, which will submit its report to the court in four months. The committee consists of former Wildlife India Director Ranjit Singh, Director General of Wildlife India Dhananjay Mohan and Wildlife DIG in the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The project was built 10 years ago

It is reported that in 2010, the Central Government had requested to allow the African Cheetah to be brought to India and said that Indian Cheetahs have gone extinct. Although the Supreme Court had raided the project in the year 2012, the NTCA again filed a petition on it in the year 2018. The Kuno National Park (for the time being the Kuno Sanctuary) was also included in this project. Although Kuno has been established as the second home of the Asiatic lions, the Gujarat government is still reluctant to give lions.

While the Central Committee for African Cheetahs has been formed after the Supreme Court's order, a committee has also been formed at the state level, which is likely to visit Sheopur in the same month and visit Coono National Park.

Translated from google


https://m.patrika.com/amp-news/sheopur-news/committee-will-come-to-explore-the-possibilities-of-african-cheeta-5870006/
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#90

Chances of cheetah sanctuary increased in tourism may add new chapter

Chances of Cheetah Century in Dhor can add to tourism. The possibility of Cheetah Century in the border area of the new chapter district has increased. Now if the government wants Jaisalmer soon, cheetah century ...

Feb 11, 2020, 08:50 AM IST

The possibility of cheetah century has increased in the border areas of the district. Now if the government wants, Jaisalmer can get a cheetah century soon. Significantly, the cheetah rehabilitation scheme has recently got a green signal from the Supreme Court. The species of Asian cheetahs has become extinct and now cheetahs will be brought from Iran and Africa. 

It is worth mentioning that in 2010, Wildlife Institute of India and Wildlife Trust of India conducted survey for natural habitat in 10 different places including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat as part of Cheetah Rehabilitation Project in India. In the report prepared after this, apart from two places of Madhya Pradesh, the Shahgarh region of Jaisalmer was considered suitable for Cheetah Century. Now with the approval of this scheme from the Supreme Court, the 
possibility of bringing cheetahs to Jaisalmer has increased. 

Shahgarh region was considered the right place for Cheetah Century

The strong representatives of the public representatives will declare the century

. The representatives of the Jaisalmer district need to advocate for this. If the Cheetah Century is declared, then in many ways Jaisalmer will join the leading cities on the world tourism map. The state government can strive for it at its level and declare a cheetah century in Shahgarh, Jaisalmer. 

The survey took place

in Shahgarh bulge bordering the survey in 2010 and this place was described as suitable. The area of about 8 thousand sq km is 150 km long and 40 km wide. Desert eco system will be balanced along with conservation of extinct cheetahs.

Jaisalmer is a tourism city. 8 to 10 lakh tourists come here annually. Although there is a ban on the entry of foreign tourists into the border area, but the domestic tourists can go easily. If a cheetah century is made in the Shahgarh region, then a new chapter can be added in the field of tourism. For a long time, there was a need to find new tourist areas in Jaisalmer, so there could be no better option than Cheetah Century. 

Translated from google


https://www.bhaskar.com/rajasthan/jaisalmaer/news/rajasthan-news-chances-of-cheetah-century-increased-in-tourism-may-add-new-chapter-085006-6593518.html
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