Cheetah Task Force constituted

Source: The post is based on the article “Cheetah Task Force constituted” published in the PIB on 7^th October 2022.

What is the News?

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a Task Force for monitoring Cheetah introduction in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh and other suitable designated areas.

What is Project Cheetah?

What is the need for Cheetah restoration?

Cheetah restoration is part of a prototype or model for the restoration of original cheetah habitats and their biodiversity. Bringing back a top predator restores historic evolutionary balance resulting in cascading effects on various levels of the ecosystem.

For instance, the cheetah has been the evolutionary natural selection force that has shaped the adaptation of high speeds in Indian antelopes and gazelles. By restoring cheetah, India would also be able to save not only its prey base comprising certain threatened species, but also other endangered species of the grasslands / open forest eco-systems, some of which are on the brink of extinction.

About Cheetah Task Force

The Task Force shall be in force for a period of two years. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would facilitate the working of the Cheetah Task Force and render all necessary help.

The Cheetah Task Force has been constituted to,

-Review, progress and monitor the health status of the Cheetah, upkeep of the quarantine & soft release enclosures, protection status of the area for Cheetah introduction in India.

-Monitor hunting skills and adaptation of Cheetahs to the habitat of Kuno National Park.

-Monitor release of Cheetah from Quarantine bomas to soft release enclosures and then to grass land and open forest areas.

-Open Cheetah habitat for eco-tourism and suggest regulations in this regard.

-Regularly interact with Cheetah Mitras and local communities for their awareness raising and also about their involvement in the protection of Cheetahs in particular & area in general.