CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION ACTION PLAN

Feb. 28, 2022

An expert team of wildlife officials from Madhya Pradesh, the Indian Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India that visited Namibia for a site visit last week is reportedly “satisfied”, but a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the transfer is yet to be signed.

About:

  • Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched an “action plan” at the 19th meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on January 7 saying, “The cheetah that became extinct in independent India, is all set to return.”

  • The action plan states that a cohort of 10-12 young cheetahs that are ideal for reintroduction would be imported from Namibia or South Africa as a founder stock during the first year.

  • Around 35 cheetah would be needed over time to establish such a stock.

  • The proposed site for introduction is the Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh, though at least three other reserves in Central India are being considered.

  • According to the plan, the Central government, along with the Environment Ministry and the Cheetah Task Force, will create a formal framework to collaborate with governments of Namibia and/or South Africa, through the Ministry of External Affairs.

Cheetah

  • Scientific name: Acinonyx Jubatus.

  • Common Name(s): Cheetah, Hunting Leopard.

  • Speed: It is the fastest land animal. It can reach speeds of 30 m/s.

  • Habitat: Cheetah lives in Dryland Ecosystem i.e. Grasslands, Scrublands and Open Forests.

  • Indian scenario: Cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. It is the only large mammal to have been declared extinct in our country in recorded history.

Source : The Hindu