Context:
A South African cheetah named Gamini in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, has given birth to three cubs, raising India’s cheetah population to 38, marking the ninth successful litter under the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.
Key Highlights:
- Birth of New Cubs
- Gamini, a translocated South African cheetah, delivered three cubs in Kuno National Park.
- This event marks the ninth successful cheetah litter since the reintroduction program began.
- Earlier, Aasha, a cheetah translocated from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs.
- Current Status of the Cheetah Population
- India’s total cheetah population has increased to 38.
- Some adult cheetahs are also housed in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
- Cheetah Reintroduction Project
- Launched to reintroduce the cheetah, India’s only extinct large carnivore, which disappeared from the country in 1952.
- The project involves translocation of African cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa.
- Habitat and Conservation Strategy
- Kuno National Park was selected due to:
- Suitable grassland ecosystem
- Adequate prey base
- Lower human population density.
- The program also aims to strengthen biodiversity and restore ecological balance.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
- Fastest land animal.
- Classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List.
- Historically present in India but declared extinct in 1952.
- Cheetah Reintroduction Project
- First-ever intercontinental translocation of a large carnivore.
- Initiated in 2022.
- Cheetahs imported from Namibia and South Africa.
- Kuno National Park
- Located in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh.
- Originally prepared as a possible relocation site for Asiatic lions.
- Characterized by dry deciduous forests and grasslands.
- Translocation
- Conservation strategy involving moving species from one habitat to another to restore populations.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Significance of the Cheetah Reintroduction Project
- Restores lost ecological functions in grassland ecosystems.
- Enhances biodiversity conservation in India.
- Strengthens global collaboration in wildlife conservation.
- Promotes eco-tourism and awareness about grassland ecosystems.
- Challenges in the Project
- Adaptation challenges for cheetahs in a new habitat.
- Human-wildlife conflict risks near buffer areas.
- Limited genetic diversity due to small founding population.
- Habitat suitability and prey availability concerns.
- Broader Ecological Importance
- Grasslands are often neglected ecosystems in conservation policies.
- Apex predators like cheetahs help maintain ecological balance by regulating herbivore populations.
- Way Forward
- Expand suitable habitats and wildlife corridors.
- Strengthen community-based conservation programs.
- Improve scientific monitoring and genetic management.
- Develop multiple cheetah populations across India to ensure long-term survival.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS Paper III: Biodiversity Conservation, Wildlife Management.
- Prelims: Cheetah Reintroduction Project, Kuno National Park, IUCN Red List.