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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