12 cheetahs from South Africa find new home in M.P.’s Kuno National Park
Recently Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released twelve cheetahs brought from South Africa in Kuno National Park (Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh). Now the total number of cheetahs in Kuno National Park has increased to 20.
Explain that in September 2022, the Prime Minister released 8 cheetahs brought from Namibia in Kuno National Park.
Cheetah Rehabilitation Action Plan in India-
- Be aware that in the year 1952, cheetahs were declared an extinct species.
- The Cheetah Rehabilitation Project in India aims to establish a viable cheetah metapopulation in India, which allows the cheetah to perform its functional role as an apex predator.
- Provides the cheetah with room to expand within its historic range, thereby contributing to global conservation efforts.
- According to the Cheetah Rehabilitation Action Plan in India, there is a need to translocate 10-12 cheetahs every year from African countries for at least the next 5 years.
- In this regard, the Government of India’s bilateral talks with South Africa for cooperation in the field of cheetah conservation have been successfully concluded with the signing of an MoU in January 2023.
- Under the provisions of this MoU, the first batch of 12 cheetahs (7 males, 5 females) was transferred from South Africa to India on 18 February 2023.
- In this regard, the Government of India had initiated G2G consultative meetings with Namibia. This initiative resulted in the signing of an MoU between the two countries on July 20, 2022 for Cheetah Conservation.
- Following the signing of this MoU, eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia to India on September 17, 2022 in a historic first wild-to-wild transcontinental transfer.
African Cheetah vs Asiatic Cheetah:
- African: It is found throughout the continent of Africa. These have a thick light brown and golden colored skin from the Asiatic cheetah and a predominance of spots and lines on the faces. IUCN Red-list Status: Vulnerable.
- Asiatic: Slightly smaller than African cheetahs. Light yellow colored skin and more hair on the underside of the body, especially on the belly. Found only in Iran, the country claims there are only 12 cheetahs left. Year 1952 The Asiatic Cheetah was officially declared extinct from India. IUCN Red-list Status: Critically Endangered.
Source – PIB