Project Cheetah- Next Phase in Gujarat

Source- This post on the Project Cheetah- Next Phase in Gujarat  has been created based on the article “Grasslands in Kutch likely to host cheetahs from Africa” published in “The Hindu” on 24 July 2024.

Next Phase of Project Cheetah in Gujarat

1. Some of the cheetahs being brought from Africa for the next phase of Project Cheetah might be sent to a new cheetah-breeding and conservation center in Banni, Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.

3. Compared to Kuno and Gandhi Sagar, Banni offers more space but currently lacks sufficient prey to support a viable cheetah population.

4. The Gujarat government is actively working to set up suitable enclosures in Banni to facilitate cheetah breeding.

5. Challenges: One significant challenge in Banni is the insufficient number of prey animals, such as chinkara and blackbuck, which are essential for the cheetahs.

About Banni Grassland

1. Location: The Banni Grassland is located along the northern border of the Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.

2. Size: With an area of over 2,500 square kilometers, the Banni Grassland is one of the largest grasslands in the Indian subcontinent.

3. Environmental Factors: Several factors have shaped the Banni Grassland over time, including the damming of rivers, the introduction and spread of the invasive Prosopis juliflora tree, and the varying composition and density of livestock that have grazed these grasslands for many centuries.

4. Population: The Banni Grassland is home to 22 ethnic groups, most of whom are pastoralists, living across 48 settlements in 19 Panchayats, with a population of close to 40,000 people.

5. Protected Areas: The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, spanning an area of 380 square kilometers, and the recently notified 227 square kilometer Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve are part of the Banni Grasslands.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment