Madhya Pradesh

The central and state governments together created history in wildlife conservation

 Bhopal- This time, a glimpse of the return of cheetah to Kuno Palpur National Park will be displayed to the world in Madhya Pradesh’s attractive tableau during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has reiterated the state government’s commitment to wildlife conservation.

The return of cheetahs to India is a historic initiative of intercontinental wildlife translocation. This is a historic success for India in reestablishing the cheetah population which became extinct in the 1950s. The transportation of healthy cheetahs from Africa is a milestone in India’s wildlife conservation history.

The first group of eight cheetahs arrived in India on 17 September 2022, which included 5 females and 3 males. They were transferred from Namibia to Kuno National Park, Sheopur. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi continuously monitored the entire process of releasing them in Kuno National Park. After this, the second group arrived from South Africa on 18 February 2023, which included 12 cheetahs (7 males and 5 females). “Project Cheetah” is before us as a remarkable scientific achievement, which is contributing to the restoration of national pride. It has added an important chapter in the history of India’s wildlife conservation efforts.

Careful planning was done to select an ideal habitat for the cheetahs before reintroducing them to India. Renowned conservationists, geneticists from across the world were consulted, considering the lack of existence of Asiatic cheetahs from Iran. The subspecies from South Africa and Namibia were considered most suitable, supporting stable and substantial populations.

Arrival of cheetahs in India

The Wildlife Institute of India prepared a comprehensive scientific action plan under the guidance of the National Tiger Conservation Authority in 2022. This landmark initiative is in line with the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which ensures a strategic and ecological approach to the translocation of carnivore species.

The initiative to bring back leopards to India is not just a project but a scientific prototype for restoring their original habitats. It is an initiative to revive the grassland ecology and conserve the local biodiversity.

The cheetah reintroduction plan has acted as a catalyst to maintain the delicate balance of the historical bio-ecology. For this, ten places in central India were surveyed to identify suitable habitats. Out of these places, Kuno Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh was found to be the most suitable. Spread over an area of ​​748 square kilometers, Kuno National Park is not only a suitable habitat, but also has sufficient prey for cheetahs. Also, this place is free from human activities.

Prior Attempts

In 1952, the Indian government recognised the plight of the cheetah and resolved to give it special protection. Subsequent negotiations to bring Asiatic cheetahs from Iran failed in the 1970s. The story of the return of cheetahs to India is a winding tale that goes back to the extinction of the species in the 1950s.

Official efforts began in the 1970s, with talks beginning with Iran and then Kenya. In 2009, India made a proposal for African cheetahs. A landmark decision was taken in 2020 to allow the introduction of a limited number of cheetahs to test their ability to survive in the Indian environment.

From extinction to population

Cheetah is known for its attractive appearance. Its name “Cheeta” is originally from Sanskrit, which means “spotted.” It is mentioned in ancient Indian religious texts such as Rigveda and Atharvaveda. Its pictures are found in the Neolithic caves of Central India. Cheetah said goodbye to India in the year 1952. They became extinct due to many reasons. Large scale catching for hunting, hunting for prize and hobby, loss of habitat and lack of availability of their prey were cited as the main reasons.

In the twentieth century, the cheetah population declined due to a lack of conservation measures, further worsening the plight of this magnificent creature. In Asia, the cheetah faced extermination from its habitat, which stretched from the Mediterranean and Arabian Peninsulas to the Caspian Sea and reached Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and central India. The lack of wild prey, direct hunting and habitat loss led to their disappearance. Now the Asiatic cheetah, which is on the “critically endangered” list, survives only in Iran.

In this background, India has created wildlife conservation history. Madhya Pradesh government is taking care of wildlife conservation with best efforts.

Jeet

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