One year to Project Cheetah

India’s Project Cheetah recently completed one year after the first batch of eight Namibian cheetahs was released in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP).

About Project Cheetah:

• It is a long-term project of India that plans to bring 12-14 cheetahs from South Africa/Namibia/ other African Countries, annually for next 5 years.
• It is the first inter-continental, wild to wild, Cheetah translocation by air, from Namibia and South Africa to India was done under the project.
• It was the first effort undertaken in the world to rectify ecologically wrong done in the past.
• India housed world’s fastest land animal (up to 64 miles per hour in three seconds) again after the feline was declared extinct (in India) in 1952.
  • Five female and three male cheetahs were introduced in Kuno-Palpur National Park
• It was implemented under supervision of expert team consisting of Government officials, Scientists, Wildlife Biologists and Veterinarians belonging to Namibia, South Africa and India.

Progress of Project Cheetah:

• Annual Report on successful implementation of Project Cheetah was released at Sesaipura Forest Complex in Kuno.
• It was successful in achieving 4 out of 6 criteria for short-term success of the project.
  • 50% survival of introduced cheetahs
  • Establishment of home ranges
  • Birth of cubs in Kuno
  • Revenue to the local communities directly (engagement of cheetah trackers) and indirectly (appreciation of land value in surrounding areas).
• Although intercontinental long-distance cheetah translocations have an inherent risk of mortalities, 8 Cheetahs from Namibia and 12 Cheetahs from South Africa were successfully translocated without any mortality.
• Most Cheetahs adapted to the Indian conditions, showing normal qualities like hunting, exploring the landscape, protecting their kill, avoiding/chasing other carnivores like leopards and hyenas.
• They could establish their own territory, internecine fights, courtship and mating and no negative interactions with human beings.
• Female Cheetah gave birth to cubs on the Indian soil after 75 years, of which one survived.
• No cheetah has died due to unnatural causes like poaching, hunting, snaring, accident, poisoning, and retaliatory killing due to community support from the local villages.
• Cheetah Mitras made commendable efforts in awareness campaigns, protection and intelligence gathering for cheetah conservation.
• It mobilized the local community and provided livelihood options through direct and indirect employment.
• Monitoring: It included cheetah and other wildlife in Kuno National Park by efforts for management of conflict, livelihood opportunities and community engagement to foster greater tolerance.

Initiatives for future:

• Alternative sites for cheetah introductions are being prepared at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) with Quarantine and acclimatization enclosures and at Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh). 
• Conservation breeding of Cheetah Centre, Cheetah Research Centre, Interpretation Centre, Cheetah Management Training Centre and Cheetah Safari are being planned.

Significance of the project:

• The reintroduction of cheetahs will bring focus to conservation of dry grasslands and generate job opportunities for local communities.
• It will open possibilities for rewilding initiatives worldwide as a unique endeavor to reintroduce a lost species through intercontinental efforts.

Facts about Cheetah:

• Cheetahs can live up to 20 years in captivity and up to 14 years in the wild.
• Tawny coats covered in black spots, each arranged in a unique pattern to help them identify one another.
• Malar stripes– black tear marks to protect eyes from sun’s glare.
• Conservation status of Cheetah:
  • IUCN:  Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I

Ref: Source