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Source– This post is based on the article “Cheetahs to return to Gujarat as Centre approves breeding centre in Banni grassland” published in “The Indian Express” on 9th December 2023.
Why in the News?
The central government has approved a proposal to set up a cheetah conservation breeding centre in Banni grasslands of Kutch district in Gujarat.
What is Project Cheetah?
1) Project Cheetah is India’s ambitious cheetah relocation program aimed at establishing a self-sustaining population of cheetahs, which had become extinct in 1950s in the country.
2) It is the world’s first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project.
3) Under this, 20 cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa were introduced in the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
4) With the setting up of a cheetah conservation breeding centre in Gujarat, cheetahs brought from Africa could start roaming Banni grasslands in the near future.
| For more information on Project Cheetah Click Here to read |
What are the Key Features of Banni Grassland?
| Specification | Details |
| Location | Kutch district of Gujarat |
| Size | 1) Covering 2,618 km², it represents nearly 45% of Gujarat’s grazing land. 2) It is considered to be the largest Grassland in Asia. |
| Ecosystem | Wetlands and grasslands coexist in Banni. |
| Vegetation | Features sparse growth dominated by low forbs and graminoids, including salt-tolerant varieties, along with scattered trees and scrub. |
| Flora and Fauna | The area is rich in flora and fauna with 192 species of plants, 273 species of birds, several species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. |
| Protection Efforts | 1) In 1955, the court notified the grassland will be a reserve forest. 2) In 2019, the NGT ordered to demarcate the boundaries of the Banni grassland and restricted non-forest activities. |
About Maldhari Tribe
1) The Maldharis is a pastoralist tribal group, living in the Gir National Park, in the Banni Grasslands Reserve area.
2) In 2021, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recognized their right to conserve the community forests in the Banni Grasslands area under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
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