With a wildlife diversity like none, India has once again managed to gather all the attention of the world. From the Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the South, from the Thar desert in the west to the rainforests of East India, our country takes pride in the various species of animals and birds which reside here. On September 17th, 2022, 8 cheetahs arrived for the first time after 70 years of its extinction. Namibia, which is home to over 7000 plus cheetahs, exported the wild cats after several long years of negotiations.
EARLY RELOCATIONS OF WILDLIFE: The current Prime Minister isn't the first leader to recognise the value of charismatic wild species for a holistic development of the country. The very first evidence dates back to the year 1949, when the first Prime Minister of India - Jawaharlal Nehru gifted an elephant calf “Indira” to the war torn children of Japan. In upcoming years, India relocated Asiatic elephants to various countries like the U.S.A, Soviet Union, China, Turkey, Germany and many more. An epitome of non-violence, for years India has promoted animal love through its various conservation programs and has been looked up by many countries around the globe.
EARLY DISCUSSIONS OF CHEETAH RELOCATION: The debate over whether cheetah reintroduction compatible with the stated aims of wildlife conservation, started soon after extinction was confirmed. In the 1970s, the Indian Department of Environment had written a formal letter to the Government of Iran, requesting for the relocation of Asiatic cheetahs and also received a positive response. But the talks stalled after the Shah of Iran was deposed in the Iranian Revolution. Post this, the idea was dropped in 2010 when Iran demanded for an Asiatic lion in exchange of the cheetahs and never really supported the whole idea of relocation due to lower numbers in its own region.
THE INITIAL SURVEYS: For the purpose of cheetah relocation, a meeting of cheetah experts was organized at Gajner in Rajasthan in September 2009. 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, and the Iranian government's repeated reluctance to supply said cheetahs for Indian efforts. The Ministry of Environment & Forests approved the recommendation for a detailed survey of potential reintroduction sites in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, which were shortlisted during the consultative meeting. Four more Indian states - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra were also considered. The survey would have formed the basis for the roadmap of reintroduction of cheetahs in India, and would have been carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
THE CHALLENGES: The reintroduced population needs to be protected from anthropogenic threats, and the potential impact of unnaturally high competition among cheetahs and other predators needs to be managed. Due to the cheetah’s large home ranges and a tendency to occur at low densities, release sites should be part of a larger suitable landscape. In semi-arid regions of Namibia, cheetahs utilize a huge home range of about 1500 sq km. At the same time, cheetahs are one of the most adaptable species and will be able to survive the climatic conditions of India. In parts of Africa, where cheetahs are found, the temperatures can vary from very, very hot during the day to cold at night. Therefore, cheetahs can adapt to seasonal shifts.
With such challenges ahead of India, this relocation is currently a very sensitive procedure. With careful analysis and under expert supervision, all we can do is wait and watch and hope for the success of this plan.
Are you looking for cheetah safari in kuno India with luxury accomodation?
A Unit of Tigerwalah | Developed By EVA WEB TECH
