Cheetahs Reintroduction Project | Environment for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION 
PROJECT 
Page 2


CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION 
PROJECT 
INTRODUCTION 
The country’s last spotted feline died in Chhattisgarh in 
1947. 
 Later, the cheetah — which is the fastest land animal — 
was declared extinct in India in 1952.  
The only mammal to become extinct in India in last 
1,000 years. 
In 2009, the United Progressive Alliance government 
had floated a plan to re-introduce cheetahs into the 
wild in India. (Project Cheetah) 
 When Iran, the only country in the world to have a 
small population of Asiatic Cheetahs refused to send 
any to India, it was decided to introduce African 
Cheetahs to India instead. 
 
Page 3


CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION 
PROJECT 
INTRODUCTION 
The country’s last spotted feline died in Chhattisgarh in 
1947. 
 Later, the cheetah — which is the fastest land animal — 
was declared extinct in India in 1952.  
The only mammal to become extinct in India in last 
1,000 years. 
In 2009, the United Progressive Alliance government 
had floated a plan to re-introduce cheetahs into the 
wild in India. (Project Cheetah) 
 When Iran, the only country in the world to have a 
small population of Asiatic Cheetahs refused to send 
any to India, it was decided to introduce African 
Cheetahs to India instead. 
 
Page 4


CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION 
PROJECT 
INTRODUCTION 
The country’s last spotted feline died in Chhattisgarh in 
1947. 
 Later, the cheetah — which is the fastest land animal — 
was declared extinct in India in 1952.  
The only mammal to become extinct in India in last 
1,000 years. 
In 2009, the United Progressive Alliance government 
had floated a plan to re-introduce cheetahs into the 
wild in India. (Project Cheetah) 
 When Iran, the only country in the world to have a 
small population of Asiatic Cheetahs refused to send 
any to India, it was decided to introduce African 
Cheetahs to India instead. 
 
 
IUCN STATUS 
 
African Cheetah - Vulnerable  
Asiatic Cheetah – Critically endangered 
 
The Asian and the African species separated 
between 30,000 and 60,000 years ago. 
 
Page 5


CHEETAH REINTRODUCTION 
PROJECT 
INTRODUCTION 
The country’s last spotted feline died in Chhattisgarh in 
1947. 
 Later, the cheetah — which is the fastest land animal — 
was declared extinct in India in 1952.  
The only mammal to become extinct in India in last 
1,000 years. 
In 2009, the United Progressive Alliance government 
had floated a plan to re-introduce cheetahs into the 
wild in India. (Project Cheetah) 
 When Iran, the only country in the world to have a 
small population of Asiatic Cheetahs refused to send 
any to India, it was decided to introduce African 
Cheetahs to India instead. 
 
 
IUCN STATUS 
 
African Cheetah - Vulnerable  
Asiatic Cheetah – Critically endangered 
 
The Asian and the African species separated 
between 30,000 and 60,000 years ago. 
 
CRP 
An expert panel formed by the government shortlisted a 
number of protected areas where cheetahs could be 
relocated. 
 These were Kuno-Palpur and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary 
in Madhya Pradesh, Velavadar National Park in Gujarat 
and the Shahgarh bulge in Rajasthan. 
The Kuno reintroduction plan ran into trouble.  
The protected area had also been shortlisted for introduction 
of Asiatic Lions from heavily-populated Gir in Gujarat. 
 In order to not give lions to Kuno, Gujarat's legal counsel 
had put forward the argument that Kuno was being used 
for the introduction of African cheetah which might take 
several years to fully settle down and repopulate the area 
and hence reintroduction of lions should only be done 
after that.