Union and State Governments Script Wildlife Conservation History

The Republic Day parade at New Delhi will be presenting a mesmerising tableau from Madhya Pradesh showing introduction of majestic cheetah at Kuno National Park. The Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has reiterated State Government’s commitment to conserving a wide spectrum of wildlife.

Arrival of Cheetah in India is a pioneering Intercontinental Wildlife Translocation initiative in the World. It is India’s historic success to reinstate the cheetah population after its extinction in the 1950s. The transportation of healthy cheetahs from Africa is a historic milestone in India’s wildlife conservation history.

On September 17, 2022, the first batch of eight cheetahs comprising five females and three males was transported from Namibia to Kuno National Park in sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. The release of these cheetahs into Kuno National Park was overseen by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The second batch – 12 Cheetahs reached on 18th February 2023 from South Africa included 7 males and 5 females.

The Project Cheetah stands as a commendable scientific achievement contributing to the restoration of national pride. It has added a noteworthy chapter in the history of India’s wildlife conservation endeavours. 

Before reintroducing cheetahs to India, meticulous planning was done to choose an ideal habitat. Given the unavailability of surviving Asiatic cheetahs from Iran, renowned conservation geneticists worldwide were consulted. The South African sub-species from Southern Africa and Namibia were deemed the most suitable founders, backed by their sizable and sustainable populations.

Cheetah Introduction in India

The Wildlife Institute of India, under the guidance of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, meticulously designed a comprehensive scientific action plan in 2022.

This ground-breaking initiative aligns seamlessly with the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN guidelines for carnivore translocations, ensuring a strategic and ecologically sound approach to the reintroduction of cheetahs in India.

The initiative to reintroduce cheetahs in India is not merely a project but a scientific prototype for the restoration of their original habitats. This endeavour holds the key to rejuvenating grassland ecosystems and addressing the declining status of regional biodiversity.

The reintroduction of cheetahs serves as a catalyst for restoring the delicate balance of the historic ecological landscape. In the pursuit of identifying suitable sites for this crucial reintroduction, ten locations in the central Indian states were surveyed. Among these, Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh emerged as the most promising location. Spanning an expansive 748 km2, the KNP offers not only a suitable habitat but also boasts an adequate prey base. The location is free from anthropogenic disturbances.

Past Efforts

In 1952, the Government of India acknowledged the cheetah’s plight and called for special protection. Negotiations with Iran in the 1970s for Asiatic cheetahs were inconclusive. The saga of cheetah reintroduction in India weaves a complex tale that traces its roots to the 1950s when the species faced extinction.

Formal efforts commenced in the 1970s, involving negotiations with Iran and later discussions with Kenya. In 2009, India proposed the introduction of African cheetahs. In 2020, a pivotal decision allowed the import of a limited number of cheetahs for an experimental reintroduction program, seeking to assess their adaptability to the Indian environment.

Acknowledgment of Extinction

The cheetah, an emblem of charisma, holds profound importance in India’s conservation narrative. Its name, “Cheetah,” finds roots in Sanskrit, meaning “the spotted one.” The echoes of this majestic creature resonate in ancient Indian literatures like Rigveda and Atharvaveda, with Neolithic cave paintings in central India.

In 1952, the cheetah bid farewell to India, succumbing to a culmination of threats. Large-scale captures for coursing, bounties, and sports hunting, coupled with habitat fragmentation and destruction, dwindled their range and prey base.

The 20th century witnessed a severe decline, exacerbated by inadequate conservation measures in Indian reserves, amplifying the plight of these majestic felines.

Across Asia, the cheetah faced extirpation from its historic range, extending from the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula to the Caspian and Aral Seas, onward to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan into central India.

Live capture for aristocratic sports, depletion of wild prey, direct killing and habitat fragmentation contributed to their disappearance. The critically endangered Asiatic Cheetah now clings to survival only in Iran, with very slim prospects in Pakistan. Afghanistan that were once a habitat.

The big cat population got completely wiped out in the early 1950s, mainly due to over-hunting and habitat loss. Records of Cheetahs being hunted (sport hunting, capturing during Mughal period) go back to the 1550s. In Mughal Periods, the cheetahs were used extensively for hunting. Emperor Akbar had 1,000 cheetahs in his menagerie.

The first cheetah in the world was bred in Indian captivity during the reign of Jahangir. Wild cheetah held captive for hunting antelopes. Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo, ruler of the erstwhile Korea state, now today’s Chhattisgarh, killed the last three cheetahs living in the country. The indigenous population officially got extinct, due to poaching and habitat loss, though a few sporadic sightings continued to be reported from central and Deccan regions till the mid-1970s.

The once-widespread cheetahs, gracing Africa and parts of Asia, have witnessed a decline in their expansive range over time. Originally, these magnificent creatures roamed freely across diverse landscapes, leaving an indelible mark on the continents

In the African domain, Southern and Eastern Africa serve as the last bastions for cheetahs. Eastern Africa, home to only 6% of the historical cheetah territory, faces a challenge. Southern Africa, though more resilient, grapples with a 22% retention of the historic cheetah domain.

Southern Africa hosts a critical trans-boundary population, uniting Namibia, Botswana, Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia. Yet, the cheetah’s presence remains fragile, confronting threats across this vast expanse.

The cheetah’s tale in Asia is a sorrowing tale with extinction echoing across its historic range. Once spanning from the Mediterranean shores to the heart of India, the Asiatic Cheetah now teeters on the brink of extinction, confined solely to Iran, where it is categorized as Critically Endangered. With this background, India has scripted a wildlife conservation history. The State Government of Madhya Pradesh is taking all the care offering best of conservation efforts.