Reintroduction of Cheetah

Source– The post is based on the articles “Why the return of cheetah is a powerful symbol” published in the mint and “Cheetahs will do well as India has history of their Presence” in The Times of India on 17th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS3- Environment

Relevance– About species reintroduction

News– The article explains the government action plan for African Cheetah reintroduction to Kuno National Park.

Eight African Cheetahs will be reintroduced to Kuno national park.

The last Cheetah was recorded in 1947. After independence, it became extinct.

What is the plan for the Cheetah reintroduction to Kuno?

The cheetahs will be first released in large fenced areas for adapting to the new environment. They will be fitted with satellite collars to track their movements.

After a short stay, they will be released into a large enclosure to make them familiar with the new environment. Here they will remain for around a month before being released into the wild.

Their movements will be monitored by researchers.

What are the issues related to reintroduction?

The animals being brought are southeast African Cheetah. It is a different subspecies from Asiatic Cheetah.

Instead of being allowed to run wild, they will be held up in tightly controlled Kuno national park.

Earlier plans to relocate Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Kuno national park were not successful.

Other cats will have to be removed first. Recently, leopards entered into enclosures meant for Cheetah into Kuno national park.

It will have to survive alongside tigers and leopards. The habitat of cheetahs is totally different from that of tigers and leopards. Cheetahs thrive in grasslands while tigers and leopards survive in dry deciduous forests.

What are the factors favouring its reintroduction?

It can survive in Indian habitats. Kuno is the same place where cheetahs once existed. The area has grasslands and forest habitats appropriate for this species.

African and Indian cheetahs have little genetic difference.

How will reintroduction of the species help?

Bringing back cheetahs will restore the historic evolutionary balance. Dryland ecosystems of India will have a chance to return to their natural state as it is the flagship species of grasslands.

It will also uplift the livelihood of the indigenous forest communities. It will increase tourism as India is the only country where all the six big cat species are found.

In saving the cheetah, grassland-dependent species like caracal, which are on the brink, will also be saved.

Project Cheetah will boost the ecosystem and biodiversity where it will live.

What needs to be done?

Other cats that are extinct like caracals also need attention.

We need to focus upon other Indian animals like great Indian bustard and vultures.

Cheetah conservation can be used for consolidation of grassland and shrubland that are languishing.