Cheetah Reintroduction in India: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

The cheetah reintroduction in India is a complex process with many challenges ahead. The main goal is to release captive-bred cheetahs into the wild, but this requires a suitable habitat.

The Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has been identified as a potential site for the reintroduction. This sanctuary has a large area of grassland and open forest, which is similar to the cheetah's natural habitat in Africa.

However, there are concerns about the availability of prey for the cheetahs. The sanctuary's current prey base is mostly made up of small animals like gazelles and impalas.

The reintroduction program also aims to establish a viable cheetah population in the wild, with a minimum of 20 individuals.

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Early re-introduction plans for the Asiatic cheetah in India date back to 1955, when the State Wildlife Board of Andhra Pradesh suggested reintroduction on an experimental basis in two districts.

In the 1970s, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change formally requested the Iranian government for Asiatic cheetahs, but talks stalled after the Iranian Revolution.

Wildlife conservationist Divyabhanusinh wrote a paper on the subject in 1984, which was sent to the Cat Specialist Group of Species Survival Commission of the IUCN.

The Government of Kenya reportedly offered to send a few Southeast African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in the late 1980s, but it's unclear if this ever happened.

Scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) proposed cloning Asiatic cheetahs from Iran in the early 2000s, but this plan was eventually dropped in 2010 due to Iran's hesitation.

Here are the key players involved in early re-introduction plans:

The Iranian government's reluctance to share Asiatic cheetahs was a major obstacle in early re-introduction plans, and it's only in recent years that efforts to reintroduce cheetahs to India have gained momentum.

In September 2009, a cheetah reintroduction workshop was organized by the Government of India with scientists and experts from Wildlife Institute of India and Cheetah Conservation Fund among others.

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The workshop identified several countries from where the cheetah could be imported to India, including Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and the UAE.

Stephen J. O'Brien of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity of National Cancer Institute of the United States stated that the Asiatic cheetah was genetically identical to the African cheetah, which had separated only 5,000 years ago.

This genetic similarity made it feasible to introduce the Southeast African cheetah to India, as the Asiatic cheetah's population was less than 100 individuals and the Iranian government was reluctant to supply cheetahs.

The workshop suggested that five to ten animals annually be brought to India over a period of five to ten years to create a viable population.

In late 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Forests approved a detailed survey of seven potential reintroduction sites and three holding sites for captive breeding across four states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

The survey shortlisted three regions as having a potential to support cheetah populations: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh, and the Shahgarh landscape in Rajasthan.

Here are the three regions identified as suitable for cheetah reintroduction:

Kuno-Palpur, which had hosted all four big cats earlier, and Nauradehi, part of a larger open grassland landscape, were considered suitable for cheetahs.

Project Cheetah is an initiative by the Government of India to reintroduce cheetahs into the wild after they were declared extinct in the country in 1952. This project involves importing cheetahs from Africa and establishing them in suitable habitats within India, particularly in national parks and wildlife reserves.

The goal of Project Cheetah is to restore the ecological balance, promote biodiversity, and enhance wildlife tourism and conservation efforts in India. This ambitious project aims to create a viable population of cheetahs in the wild.

Project Cheetah was first proposed in 2009, and a workshop was organized by the Government of India with scientists and experts from the Wildlife Institute of India and Cheetah Conservation Fund. The experts argued for the introduction of the Southeast African cheetah as the Asiatic cheetah survives only in Iran, its population numbers less than 100 individuals.

Five female and three male southeast African cheetahs were flown in from Namibia and released in a quarantined enclosure within the Kuno National Park in September 2022. The cheetahs were fitted with radio collars, and were planned to be retained in quarantined enclosures for a month, followed by the release of males (and later the females) into the park.

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Here's an overview of the cheetah reintroduction process:

Cheetah reintroduction is a fascinating topic, and India is at the forefront of this conservation effort. The project aims to release wild cheetahs in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

The concept of reintroduction is straightforward: it means releasing a species in an area where it can survive. Cheetahs are thought to have vanished from India after the last three Asiatic cheetahs were killed in 1947.

Reintroducing large carnivores has become a widely recognized strategy for conserving threatened species and restoring ecosystem functions. This approach has been successful in various parts of the world.

The Project Cheetah in India is the world's first inter-continental wild carnivore translocation project. It involves releasing cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia into the wild.

Here are some key facts about the project:

The project has faced some challenges, including the death of several cheetahs due to various causes. However, experts believe that this is a normal part of the reintroduction process and that the cheetahs will eventually thrive in their new habitat.

Feasibility concerns have been a major issue with Project Cheetah, with serious concerns growing last year. The cheetah is the only carnivore declared extinct from India in living memory, and its Asiatic subspecies is now critically endangered.

India is obtaining individuals from healthier African populations, which raises concerns about ecological and species injustices. Approximately 6,500 mature African cheetahs remain in the wild, and their translocation to India is problematic.

Four cheetahs died in a Special Release Boma (SRB) within 6 months of arrival, and two females have never left the SRB, as they had cubs.

Feasibility concerns have been a major issue from the start of Project Cheetah. The project was met with feasibility concerns from its inception, which grew serious last year.

India's unique challenge is that the cheetah is the only carnivore declared extinct from the country in living memory. Until that extinction in 1952, India had been the eastern limit of the cheetah's historic distribution.

The Asiatic cheetah is now critically endangered, with barely double digit numbers of breeding adults in Iran. It will be a miracle if this species survives the current decade.

African cheetah populations are under significant pressure, with only around 6,500 mature individuals remaining in the wild.

The translocation of a "Vulnerable" species to India raises concerns about ecological and species injustices, particularly regarding welfare, mortality, and risks associated with their intercontinental translocation.

Cheetahs are generally susceptible to stress, particularly associated with the capture of free-ranging animals.

Four cheetahs died in a Special Release Boma (SRB) within 6 months of arrival, and two females have never left the SRBs, as they had cubs.

All remaining free-roaming cheetahs were returned to these bomas in July-August 2023.

The SRB conditions are far from the Kruger National Park (KNP) free-ranging conditions, where cheetahs roam on average 4.3 km per day.

Adult survival rates of cheetahs in the KNP are 60%, which falls far below the average 85% survival rate for reintroductions in South Africa's metapopulation.

The KNP survival rates are likely to decrease further when all cheetahs are free-ranging and encounter other large indigenous predators.

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We can question the long-term impact on the physical and mental welfare of cheetahs due to their long-term existence in captive conditions.

Live prey is released in what may be classed as "unnatural confinement and exposed to the danger of immediate attack with no recourse", as ruled in a case by the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa.

Cheetahs have been regularly subjected to veterinarian interventions, including more than 90 chemical immobilizations.

The translocation of African cheetahs to India's KNP has already seen a 40% mortality rate, far below the average 85% survival rate for reintroductions in South Africa's metapopulation.

This is largely due to stress, trauma, and adaptation failures, which are common risks associated with the capture of free-ranging animals and their subsequent release into new environments.

Four cheetahs died in a SRB within 6 months of arrival, and two females have never left the SRBs, as they had cubs.

The cheetahs are also subjected to regular veterinarian interventions, including more than 90 chemical immobilizations, which can take a toll on their physical and mental welfare.

Adult survival rates of 60% are a concern, and are likely to decrease further when all cheetahs are free-ranging and encounter other large indigenous predators.

The lack of ethical considerations and accountability for species management failures is a worrying trend in Project Cheetah, with shifting "acceptable" mortality rates that reveal a lack of concern for the welfare of the cheetahs.

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The cheetah reintroduction in India has been a topic of mixed opinions among scientists. Veterinary pharmacologist Adrian Tordiffe views India as a "protected space" for the fragmented and threatened cheetah population.

Kuno National Park, where the cheetahs were introduced, is a relatively new national park, declared as such in 2018. It was previously a wildlife sanctuary for the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project.

The park's core zone is 748 km², and its buffer zone is 487 km², which is a significant area. However, it's still a concern that the cheetahs' individual territories typically span 100 km² in Africa.

Scientists from Namibia have expressed concern about the spatial ecology of the cheetahs in Kuno National Park. They worry that the cheetahs may venture out of the park's core zones into adjoining agricultural lands and non-forested areas, leading to conflicts with humans.

In fact, a male cheetah did escape from the park's boundaries in April 2023 and was captured in a village 20 km from the park. This incident highlights the challenges of reintroducing cheetahs into a new environment.

The Supreme Court of India ordered the central government to look for an alternative site to augment the existing facility in Kuno National Park. This suggests that the park may not have enough space for the growing number of cheetahs.

Here are some key statistics about the cheetah reintroduction in India:

Cheetah reintroduction in India is a significant step towards conserving endangered species and restoring ecosystem functions. This approach is acknowledged as an effective strategy for conserving endangered species.

Historically, the cheetah is the only large carnivore to have been extirpated in India, primarily due to over-hunting. India can now economically consider restoring its lost natural heritage for ethical and ecological reasons.

The conservation of the cheetah will revive grasslands and their biomes and habitats, much like Project Tiger has done for forests and all the species whose numbers have increased.

Some notable benefits of cheetah reintroduction in India include:

The next frontier in cheetah reintroduction in India is indeed exciting. A second location in India is being considered for Project Cheetah, with Mukundara Hills National Park in Rajasthan State initially thought to be the obvious choice.

Mukundara Hills National Park has a fence and drier conditions, making it a cheetah-friendly habitat. However, the team has decided to go with Ghandi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh State instead.

Ghandi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is a smaller protected area that can only support four adult cheetahs. This highlights the need for careful planning and expertise in cheetah reintroduction efforts.

According to van der Merwe, some of the mortality in the project could have been avoided with proper expertise.