Cheetah Conservation in India

Context

A cheetah cub was recently found dead in India with pellet injuries on its body, raising concerns about wildlife protection. Cheetahs became locally extinct in India during the 1950s, mainly due to hunting. Around 90% of the world’s wild cheetah population has disappeared over the last 100 years, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.

Important Features of Cheetahs

1. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, capable of reaching speeds of around 93–98 km/hour.
2. Their fur is covered with solid black spots, and these spots are also present on their skin.
3. Conservation authority: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
4. IUCN Status:
   1. African Cheetah – Vulnerable (VU).
   2. Asiatic Cheetah – Critically Endangered (CR).

Cheetah Reintroduction Project in India

1. To bring cheetahs back to India, the government started a translocation programme by bringing cheetahs from African countries.
2. The first batch arrived from Namibia in September 2022, followed by cheetahs from South Africa and Botswana.
3. These cheetahs were brought to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

About Kuno National Park

1. Location: Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh.
2. Core area: Approximately 748 sq. km.
3. Habitat: Dry deciduous forests and open grassland landscapes, which provide suitable conditions for cheetahs.

Additional Information – Antelope Translocation

1. Along with cheetah reintroduction, Madhya Pradesh is also carrying out a broader wildlife translocation programme. Different animals, including antelopes, tigers, gaurs and swamp deer, are being shifted between national parks and tiger reserves.
2. They are translocated using the African Boma Technique.
   1. In this method, helicopters are used to guide and drive groups of animals towards a specially designed enclosed area.
   2. Once the animals enter the enclosure, they are captured and transported in vehicles to selected national parks or tiger reserves.
3. The main objective is to:
   1. Increase the prey population available for cheetahs in Kuno National Park.
   2. Shift animals to safer and more suitable forest areas.
   3. Reduce human-wildlife conflict and protect farmers from crop damage caused by wild animals.
4. Thus, this programme follows a dual-benefit approach: protecting wildlife while also reducing problems faced by farmers.
5. About Antelopes: Important Biological Features
   1. Antelopes are not members of the deer family. They are more closely related to cattle, sheep and goats.
   2. They are ruminant animals, meaning they chew cud and have a complex digestive system to digest plant-based food.
   3. Unlike deer, which have antlers, antelopes have horns.
   4. The four-horned antelope (Chousingha) is the only wild mammal in the world known to have four horns.
   5. Important Antelope Species Found in India: Blackbuck, Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope (Chousingha), Chinkara, Tibetan Antelope and Tibetan Gazelle.
   6. Habitat: Open grasslands, savannas, semi-arid regions and alpine meadows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the difference between the IUCN conservation status of African and Asiatic cheetahs?

The African Cheetah is classified as Vulnerable (VU), whereas the Asiatic Cheetah is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.

Q2: Which national park serves as the primary home for India’s Cheetah Reintroduction Project?

Reintroduced cheetahs from African nations are housed in Kuno National Park, located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.

Q3: What unique biological feature distinguishes antelopes from members of the deer family?

Antelopes possess permanent horns instead of shedding antlers, are closely related to cattle and sheep, and function as ruminant animals that chew cud.

Q4: What is the African Boma Technique used for in India’s wildlife management?

It is a translocation method using helicopters to herd wild animals into an enclosure for safe capture and transport to boost cheetah prey bases.