Cheetahs From Namibia Archives - Lokmarg

‘Cheetah Project Has To Continue But Govt Must Rise Above Party Politics’

By LokMarg 1st June 2023

Amit Kundu, a Delhi-based wildlife enthusiast, says six cheetahs dying in a span of two months must shake this government which is playing petty politics over their habitat

The beautiful and majestic cheetahs, with their athletic bodies, and supersonic speed, have been inhabitants in Indian forests since long, until they were tragically declared extinct in 1952, basically due to rampant trophy-hunting, especially by the ruling elite of those times. There are sufficient reasons to believe that they can be successfully rehabilitated, provided ample space is made available to them, since, ideally, each cheetah needs 100 sq km of land as its own, individual territory. Presently, the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has only a space of 750 sq kms, which can ideally accommodate only five to six cheetahs.

As of now, six cheetahs, including three cubs, have unfortunately died. Out of the three adults, one has died of kidney failure, the second due to heart failure and the third due to a fierce fight during mating. The cubs died due to dehydration and heat wave conditions. All these deaths are attributed to natural causes.

There have been reports that officials are now saying that since cheetahs became extinct decades ago in India, they do not really have the expertise to handle them. In that case, wildlife experts have counter-argued that in that case what was the need and hurry to create such a hyperbole about bringing the cheetahs back to India from their natural habitat in Africa!

ALSO READ: ‘Cheetah Will Add To Indian Biodiversity’

However, in my view, the project should definitely continue, and as per forest officials and three Namibian experts in Kuno, more man power is being deployed to monitor their rehabilitation and everyday life in the wild or in confined zones. The authorities are identifying additional territories in Rajasthan as well as in Madhya Pradesh for releasing more cheetahs.

***Kundu (extreme right) is a frequent visitor to wildlife reserves across the country***

The Kuna National Park is now left with 17 adults and one cub born on March 29. Six of them are in the wild while a couple will be released before the monsoon, according to the media reports.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has expressed deep concern about the deaths of the three cheetahs translocated from South Africa and Namibia. A Bench led by Justice BR Gavai stated that the deaths had occurred within two months of their transfer to the national park. The apex court appealed to the Centre to “rise above politics” and consider shifting them to Rajasthan.

“Don’t bring party politics into this issue. Consider all the available habitats, whatever is suitable for them… Six deaths in a short span of two months is a matter of serious concern. There are opinions of experts and articles in the media. It appears that Kuno is not sufficient for so many cheetahs. There is too much concentration of cheetahs at one place. Why don’t you look for a suitable place in Rajasthan? Merely because Rajasthan is ruled by an opposition party does not mean that you will not consider it,” the Bench observed.

Cheetahs Will Add To Biodiversity, Boost Wildlife Tourism

By LokMarg 23rd September 2022

TH Khan, an environmental activist and wildlife expert from Pilibhit (UP), says Govt of India has done a commendable job by reintroducing Cheetah to Indian wildlife

Cheetahs became extinct in the early 1950s and the major reason was big-game hunting. Efforts were made since then for their rehabilitation but it is only now that we have been able to bring them to Indian forests. There are many examples of successful rehabilitation of wildlife animals in their natural habitats but rehabilitation of Cheetahs is a tricky business and their release could be termed merely as one step forward.

Although it’s not going to be a cake walk to resettle Cheetah I am confident that the cutting-edge technology will assist our wildlife officials to make this endeavour a roaring success. Rehabilitation process in this case is a complex one as it involves a carnivorous species from a different continent. Such broad and complicated rehabilitation requires a perfect harmony between the two habitats and the similarity of environments from where it is imported to where it is being shifted.

Kuno National Park was chosen for the release of cheetahs after a detailed study by experts and this is the world’s first inter-continental large carnivore translocation project as eight African Cheetahs — five females and three males, aged between two and six years, have been brought to India from Namibia. Besides adding to the bio-diversity of Kuno, the Cheetahs will also add boost tourism and generate income for the locals.

Besides providing the Cheetahs with their required natural habitat, their availability and selection were also a challenge. Initially, there was suspense over the genetic difference between the African and the Asian Cheetahs. When it became clear after an intense study that their rehabilitation is possible, the Supreme Court gave its assent to bring the Cheetahs from Namibia.

ALSO READ: ‘Cheetahs Are Welcome, But Real Challenge Begins Now’

Cheetah is listed as a vulnerable species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Two subspecies, the Asiatic Cheetah and the Northwest African Cheetah are listed as critically endangered. It is therefore very important that potential threats to our Cheetahs at release sites are mitigated. A habitat suitability study should be conducted at each site to ensure there is sufficient vegetation to support viable prey populations to sustain the re-introduced Cheetahs for a long period.

This project is the beginning of a new era of active wildlife management in the direction of ecological rehabilitation because it explores new avenues for carnivorous species amid diminishing grasslands.

Other successful wildlife rehabilitation in India includes alligators in the Chambal and Gerua rivers, single-horned rhinoceros in Dudhwa National Park and Pabitora Sanctuary, and the wild buffalo in the Chhattisgarh forest regions.

One thing that this step surely exhibits is: India’s commitment to the preservation and promotion of biodiversity. We have successfully completed 50 years of Project Tiger and 30 years of Project Elephant. With the multi-dimensional success of these two projects, two other projects, for lion and dolphin, are also being carried out at a commendable pace. Reintroducing Cheetahs is a logical link to this chain of projects.

As told to Rajat Rai

Cheetahs Are Welcome, But Real Challenges Begin Now

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

Meetu Gupta, a wildlife conservationist, says re-introducing cheetahs to Indian wildlife is a welcome step but conservation is a long process, not a one-go event

Cheetah’s return to India was a couple of years late due to COVID situation. A process of this type involves many technicalities and clearances. India has re-introduced some wild species to their natural habitats in the Bandhavgarh and Kanha forests of Madhya Pradesh. But bringing African cheetahs from Namibia to India is a first of its kind. And it involves its fair share of challenges.

Historically, cheetahs were captured in India. Nobles captured them and used them for hunting and big game. Breeding was not possible as captives. There are just two instances of when captive breeding became possible. Mughal emperor Jahangir first successfully did captive breeding of cheetahs and later the same was done in England.

During the British era, the hunting of cheetahs reduced its number rapidly. The last Indian species was killed just after Independence, in December 1947. Therefore, no Indian zoo had cheetahs at any point of time in Independent India.

Until recently, captive breeding was not possible in closed habitats. San Diego zoo (US) is one of the place where captive breeding is done. However, relocating a species from its natural habitat for captive breeding will be a Herculean task. It involves many complexities.

We have heard how the enclosure prepared for Namibian cheetahs was invaded by leopards. The question of climate difference, conflict, and competitiveness among predators are some of the crucial factors. So there is also a need to protect the species from other predators like leopards, tigers, hyenas, etc. First, the animal will be living in a small enclosure. Then it would be moved to a larger enclosure and finally released into open natural habitat. This gradual process will ensure that the species get acquainted and adapted to local conditions.

That is why we need to understand that the return of cheetahs in India is just an initiation in the direction of conservation breeding. It does not guarantee that the number of cheetahs will increase. It is a long haul.

Indian wildlife owes a lot to Indira Gandhi, who formulated a policy, constituted a Wildlife Board. Project Tiger was also started during her regime. In the current regime, budgetary cuts in the wildlife fund and fundamental changes in the policy have taken a toll on many species and their conservation. Our elephant corridors are being destroyed due to mining activities in forests etc. We need to take into account all the endangered species, not just Cheetah.

So while the return of the cheetah is welcome, we need to see if we are not neglecting other wildlife species in the name of conserving just one of them. Conservation is not a one-go event. It involves a larger question of wildlife, forest conservation, tribal policy, and policies related to other sectors that are directly or indirectly related to our wildlife and their habitat.

Several wildlife species are in crisis. The policies of successive governments in the last few decades have been fundamentally anti-conservation. We need to re-think and re-calibrate holistically on the question of wild species and their conservation.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

The narrator is a Member of the State Wildlife Board, Chhattisgarh

Modi Releases Eight Cheetahs At MP Kuno National Park

By LokMarg 17th September 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released eight cheetahs into Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.

PM Modi released two cheetahs from enclosure number one and after that about 70 meters away, from the second enclosure released another cheetah.

The cheetahs were declared extinct from India in 1952 but today 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Africa’s Namibia as part of ‘Project Cheetah’ and the government’s efforts to revitalise and diversify the country’s wildlife and habitat.

The eight cheetahs were brought in a cargo aircraft in Gwalior as part of an inter-continental cheetah translocation project. Later, the Indian Air Force choppers carried the cheetahs to Kuno National Park from Gwalior Air Force Station.

Radio collars have been installed in all the cheetahs to be monitored through satellite. Apart from this, there is a dedicated monitoring team behind each cheetah who will be monitoring their location for 24 hours.

Cheetahs have been brought under an MoU signed earlier this year.

Cheetahs will help in the restoration of open forest and grassland ecosystems in India and will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation.

Earlier, SP Yadav, Project Cheetah chief, “Cheetah is said to be the fastest animal. It runs at a speed of 100-120 km per hour. The habitat that has been selected in Kuno is very beautiful and ideal, where there are large grasslands, small hills, and forests and it is very suitable for cheetahs. Heavy security arrangements have been made in Kuno National Park. Arrangements have been done to prevent poaching activities.”

Under the ambitious Project Cheetah of the Indian government, the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetah was undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

India has a long history of wildlife conservation. One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures ‘Project Tiger’, which was initiated way back in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also of the entire ecosystem.

In continuation of this, the reintroduction of cheetahs is one step ahead and a milestone in the history of wildlife conservation in India. (ANI)

Cheetahs Brought From Namibia By Charter Cargo Flight Boeing 747

By LokMarg 16th September 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release Cheetahs in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur on Saturday and preparation is underway for reintroducing cheetahs in the country after almost 70 years.
On the occasion of his birthday, PM Modi will release eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in Kuno National Park as part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify the country’s wildlife and habitat.

Cheetah Project Chief and Member Secretary National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) SP Yadav said the Prime Minister will release two cheetahs from enclosure number one and after that about 70 meters away, which is the second enclosure PM will release another cheetah. The remaining Cheetahs will be released in their respective quarantine areas made for them.

Yadav said that Cheetahs are being brought in the country from Namibia through a special chartered cargo plane Boeing 747 which will land in India in the morning of September 17.

Speaking to ANI SP Yadav said, “We are bringing cheetahs by a special chartered cargo plane Boeing -747. This is a bigger plane and will come directly to India without refuelling and that is why we selected this aircraft. This is a dedicated aircraft and it will have eight cheetahs. Along with crew members, in addition to our officers and some veterinary doctors, wildlife experts, cheetah experts and our three Indian scientists, doctors and officers will be onboard in the plane from Namibia.”

“Laurie Marker, who is a cheetah expert, will be accompanied by three more biologists and all these people will come by chartered flight, special wooden kits have been used to bring Cheetah which is made according to the international standards, which has the facility of air movement,” he said.

Cheetah Project Chief further said that the charter flight with Cheetah is likely to depart from Namibia by today evening and will land in India tomorrow.

Talking about the Cheetahs, he said, “Cheetah is said to be the fastest animal. It runs at a speed of 100-120 km per hour. The habitat that has been selected in Kuno is very beautiful and ideal, where there are large grasslands, small hills, and forests and it is very suitable for cheetahs. Heavy security arrangements have been made in Kuno National Park. Arrangements have been done to prevent poaching activities,” he said.

“Radio collar has been installed in all the cheetahs and will be monitored through satellite. Apart from this, there will be a dedicated monitoring team behind each cheetah who will keep monitoring location for 24 hours,” Yadav added.

Yadav further said that a special charter Cargo flight of Cheetahs coming from Namibia will now directly land in Gwalior, as earlier it was supposed to land in Jaipur on September 17.

“A special charter Cargo flight of Cheetahs coming from Namibia will now land in Gwalior, earlier it was supposed to land in Jaipur on September 17. After taking them off the chartered flight in Gwalior, all the formalities of customs, immigration, and animal husbandry will be done. Later after doing these formalities, they will be directly taken at Kuno National Park by Air Force helicopter,” said Cheetah Project Chief.

Under the ambitious project of the Indian government-Project Cheetah- the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetah is being undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

India has a long history of wildlife conservation. One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures ‘Project Tiger’ which was initiated way back in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also to the entire ecosystem.

In continuation of this, the reintroduction of cheetah, which we have lost recently is one step ahead and a milestone in the history of wildlife conservation in India. (ANI)