On 17th September, 2022, the World’s fastest land animal finally back to India after almost 75 years of their local extinction from the country.
Key points
- In the first ever intercontinental wildlife translocation and decades after extinction of their Asiatic counterparts in India, eight African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) from Namibia translocated into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
- Subsequently, 12 cheetahs from South Africa were also translocated and released in Kuno National Park in February, 2023.
Out of the above 6 criteria given in Action plan for assessing the short term success, the project has already met four criteria namely:
- 50% survival of introduced cheetahs,
- establishment of home ranges,
- birth of cubs in Kuno
- and the project has contributed revenue to the local communities directly through engagement of cheetah trackers and indirectly by way of appreciation of land value in the surrounding areas of Kuno.
Other facts
- Being a long term project, it is planned to bring 12-14 cheetahs from South Africa/Namibia/ other African Countries, annually for the next 5 years and after that, as and when required.
- Other alternative sites for cheetah introductions are being prepared at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and also at Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The reintroduction of cheetahs will bring much-needed focus to the conservation of the country’s dry grasslands and will also generate job opportunities for local communities. The success of this project will open up possibilities for rewilding initiatives worldwide.
