Commencement of Habitat Survey for Africa's Cheetahs in India

A cheetah being photographed in Africa

The cheetah reintroduction project in India has begun with a survey to find a suitable habitat for Africa's cheetahs. M.K Ranjitsinh, former director of Wildlife Preservation of India, stated that the survey has been initiated by a team of researchers under the supervision of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Dr. Ranjitsinh is part of a three-member committee formed at the order given by the Supreme Court early this year. The two other members are WII director Dhananjai Mohan and the Deputy Inspector General (Wildlife) at the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The ministry has authorized a total of Rs. 2.5 crore to the WII for the cheetah project. A WII report written by Dr. Ranjitsinh and big cat expert Y.V Jhala ten years ago examined the possibility of cheetah reintroduction in the following protected areas: 

• Sanjay and Guru Ghasidas National Parks and Dubri Wildlife Sanctuary (Chhattisgarh) 
• Kuno Palpur, Nauradehi, and Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuaries (Madhya Pradesh)
• Kaimoor Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh) 
• The Shahgarh Landscape and Desert National Park (Rajasthan)

According to the report, the authors suggested Kuno Palpur and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuaries and Shahgarh Landscape for the reintroduction. They further added that all three sites need preparation and resource contributions to start an introduction. They also emphasized the need for long-term political will, personnel, and resources from both central and state governments to successfully carry out this project. The protected areas in Chhattisgarh, on the other hand, were ruled out due to issues like low prey densities. 

A view of Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary

The report evaluated Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary to have a current capacity to maintain 27 cheetahs. However, the authors pointed out that combining neighboring forested areas to the sanctuary can accommodate 32 individuals. In addition, the surrounding 3,000 sq. km habitat can be maintained as a buffer to the sanctuary. This way, the location can hold distribution of 70 cheetahs. The authors also advised designating 750 sq. km as a core area of Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and relocating 23 human settlements from the area with generous and proper compensation. This would allow the sanctuary to accommodate over 50 cheetahs as a source population, while the entire landscape could support over 70 individuals. The Shahgarh Landscape was also found to be an ideal location for cheetahs. Because it is fenced along the Indo-Pakistan border, the authors suggested it to be fenced off by building another 140 km-long chain-link fence to include roughly 4,000 sq. km of habitat. They also recommended relocating local people from 80 seasonally used settlements. They also mentioned that the area could accommodate 15 cheetahs and has the capacity to support 40 individuals with further habitat management.

A view of sand dunes in Desert National Park

I find it to be a major news that a habitat survey has begun for reintroducing the cheetah in India. To me, it indicates the first step in the country's cheetah reintroduction project. I'm equally impressed that the WII report written by Dr. Ranjitsinh and Dr. Jhala in 2010 has been mentioned in this news. This report has given detailed information about the cheetah reintroduction project, including the identified sites of release. One of those sites is Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, which also happens to be the release site for Asiatic lions. Dr. Ranjitsinh assured that there would not be any conflict between cheetahs, lions, and tigers in the sanctuary. However, I still think it is crucial to closely monitor the cheetahs to see how well they are adjusting with their larger feline counterparts. Rajasthan's Desert National Park and Shahgarh Landscape are, without question, ideal habitats for cheetahs outside Africa. The area encompassing these two sites is made up of sweeping sand dunes much like the ones in Namibia, from where cheetahs will be brought. Both the sites are home to the chinkara (Indian gazelle), which historically was an ideal prey for the cheetah in India. However, the state chief wildlife warden Arindam Tomar expressed his concern over the growing tension between India and Pakistan with Shahgarh Landscape situated along the border. I think it is highly essential to tackle this volatile situation to ensure proper safety for cheetahs before releasing them. I also think it is crucial to take measurements to deal with situations like poaching, which is attributed to low prey densities in Chhattisgarh's protected areas. These sites were home to cheetahs and they continued to survive there until after India gained its independence. Overall, I find this news gives a sense of optimism in bringing the cheetah back to India and let us see what happens later.

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Alleviation of Poverty and Unemployment Essential in Fighting Poaching in South Africa

A pair of white rhinos - one dehorned to discourage poachers - in Kruger National Park. 

Whenever there are incidences of poaching, the typical response is to investigate the crime scenes, identify the suspects, arrest the suspects, and convict them. In addition, strict laws are implemented to warn people of the consequences of poaching. However, what most people overlook is that it is connected to poverty and unemployment in countries where poaching is rampant. This was seen in an interview conducted by TRAFFIC. The interview was geared at 73 people from South Africa's correctional institutions. Many of them were youngsters with less than high school education, who admitted to have participated in the illegal wildlife trade due to unemployment and peer pressure. One interviewee claimed that he could earn more by selling two rhino horns than what most people in his community earn in a whole year. Another explained his involvement due to his legal job being seasonal. In the midst of restricted opportunities and very unequal society, the interviewees had noticed that the people with the money are the ones who had engaged in the illegal wildlife trade. Furthermore, none of these youngsters were ever informed about the severity of penalties towards poaching. This was seen when one interviewee explained how he thought he would serve only six months for rhino poaching, but ended up serving ten years.

A tracker dog and its handler at the Kruger National Park K-9 Center. 

It really disturbs me how youngsters are becoming involved in illegal poaching in order to make ends meet. These kids are forced to give in to peer pressure, due to high levels or poverty and unemployment in South Africa. This study conducted by TRAFFIC should be taken into serious consideration in efforts to mitigate poverty and unemployment in the country. Just enforcing anti-poaching laws followed by arresting and convicting poachers alone will not alleviate poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. South Africa is infamous for having the highest economic inequality in the world. The high levels of poverty and unemployment are directly linked to the country's high crime rate. Criminals consist of not just adults, but youngsters too. It is highly essential to conduct large-scale awareness programs targeted at the local youth. These programs should be designed to educate them about poaching and illegal wildlife trade and what they should do in order to help mitigate them. I also strongly urge the South African government to conduct measurements to alleviate poverty and unemployment in the country as a whole. This includes eliminating corruption and guaranteeing that wildlife officers and other authorities are properly paid for their work in ensuring safety for both people and wildlife.

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