Why is it in news?
The Supreme Court (SC) told the Union government that the deaths of 40% of the 20 cheetahs brought from South Africa and Namibia to the Kuno National Park (KNP) within a year does not present a good picture.
UPSC SYLLABUS RELEVANCE:
- Prelims: Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change
- Mains: General Studies III – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Important: Concepts Project Cheetah
Today’s prelims practice question:
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Cheetah, bearing the scientific name Acinonyx jubatus is listed as Vulnerable under the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
2. Tadoba Andhari Tiger reserve is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
Which among the statements mentioned above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer: A
Explanation: Cheetah, bearing the scientific name Acinonyx jubatus is listed as Vulnerable under
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary covers nearly 1197 km2
area across three districts, i.e., Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur, of Madhya Pradesh. It is the largest
wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
Today’s mains practice question:
What according to you are the advantages of animal translocation? Also bring about the challenges associated with it.
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
About Cheetah:
- The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), the sub-species of Cheetah that is found
in Iran. - Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus has most recently been assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2021.
• Acinonyx jubatus is listed as Vulnerable.
• The Cheetah is assessed as Vulnerable under criterion A4b based on a population size reduction of 37% (21–51%) over three generations (approximately 15 years) between 2017 and 2032 and criterion C1 based on a global population size (tentatively estimated at 6,500 mature individuals) and a projected averaged continuing decline.
• Data from a comprehensive national assessment in Zimbabwe, the only large area that
includes protected and unprotected landscapes with reliable population estimates from two
points in time, indicates a decline of 85% over 15 years.
Project Cheetah:
- Project Cheetah has been a decade in the making, but the first translocation took place only last year.
• The project aims to reintroduce the graceful feline in India.
• Cheetahs are the fastest land animals and can, in short sprints on open ground, reach speeds
in excess of 100 kph.
• Asiatic Cheetahs were once abundant in India but their numbers dwindled over the centuries
due to loss of habitat and widespread hunting.
• The last cheetah in the country died in 1952. Cheetahs were officially declared extinct by
the Indian government in 1952.
• After being reported extinct in India for seven decades, the cheetah is set to make a
comeback through ‘Project Cheetah’.
• The Government of India reintroduced eight African cheetahs, consisting of five females
and three males, at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. - The animals brought from Namibia and South Africa are the Southeast African cheetahs a different subspecies.
- Since last year, Kuno National Park has received 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa with the aim of establishing a free-ranging.
Origin and Approval of Project Cheetah:
- Project Cheetah received approval from the Supreme Court of India in January 2020 as a pilot program to reintroduce the cheetah species to the country.
- The initiative was first proposed in 2009 by Indian conservationists in collaboration with the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), a non-profit organization headquartered in Namibia.
- The CCF is dedicated to the preservation and rehabilitation of cheetahs in their natural habitats.
Objectives of Project Cheetah:
- Potential to revive India’s natural heritage and strengthen its commitment to wildlife conservation.
- Re-establish a viable population of the Asiatic cheetah in India, which is currently considered critically endangered and on the brink of extinction.
- Enhance India’s global standing as a responsible custodian of endangered species.
- The project could attract ecotourism, generating economic opportunities for local communities and promoting environmental awareness.
- By reintroducing this species, the project seeks to restore the ecological balance, enhance
biodiversity, and conserve the unique genetic heritage of the cheetah.
Potential challenges to Project Cheetah:
- Lack of abundant areas with abundant prey, sufficient cover, and minimal human-wildlife
conflicts. - Captivity and changes in habitat induce anxiety and stress, hindering reproduction.
- Non-availability of suitable Habitats for the cheetah’s re-introduction i.e., to match with theSavannah landscape of Africa.
- Anthropogenic threats like snaring for bush meat and retaliatory killings pose risks to the cheetahs.
- Non-availability of a safe environment, free from poaching and habitat destruction is essential for the cheetah’s long-term survival.
- Maintaining cheetahs and their prey base in an enclosure is considered impossible due to fencing issues.
- Genetic diversity in the Asiatic cheetah population is severely fragmented, with a limited gene pool.
- Maintaining genetic diversity during the reintroduction process is vital to avoid inbreeding depression and preserve the species’ long-term viability.
- The climate, prey species, and overall conditions in Kuno forest may not stimulate mating and reproduction.
- Concerns are raised about the prolonged captivity of cheetahs before translocation, which may have increased stress and vulnerability.
- Poor adaptive management strategies, community participation and lack of effective monitoring to mitigate potential conflicts between humans and cheetahs.
Conclusion:
- Overall, Project Cheetah holds immense importance in terms of wildlife conservation and
biodiversity management in India. - Its successful implementation requires eliminating the challenges and can contribute to restoring keystone species, ecosystem balance, and preserving India’s natural heritage.
- Its efforts are crucial for the long-term survival of this magnificent species and the overall
health of ecosystems. - The relocation program is considered an experiment, and every death and birth should not
be seen as a definitive success or failure. - However, clear criteria and timelines must be established for project managers to determine if adjustments are necessary.
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