TAG: GS-3: CONSERVATION
THE CONTEXT: The Corrective Action Plan states that translocation of the large carnivore, African cheetah, is a strategy to conserve the threatened species and restore ecosystem functions.
EXPLANATION:
About Cheetah:
The cheetah has a long history in the country; in Chaturbunj Nala in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, a Neolithic cave painting depicting a “slender spotted feline being hunted” was discovered.
The Sanskrit term “Chitrak,” which translates to “the spotted one,” is said to be the source of the name “cheetah.”
- It is believed that the cheetah disappeared from the landscape in 1947, and they were brutally killed and hunted down in India. The Indian government formally declared the cheetah extinct in 1952.
- The cheetah has become extinct in 14 other countries since the 1940s, including Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Morocco, Syria, Oman, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Ghana, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Why was Kuno National Park chosen for Cheetah Reintroduction?
Both Cheetah and Asiatic Lions share the same habitats semi-arid grasslands and forests that stretch across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
- The rainfall, temperature, and altitude in the Sheopur district, where Kuno is situated, are equivalent to those of South Africa and Namibia. In addition, Kuno contains a diverse population of prey species, including peafowl, wild pigs, gazelle, langurs, chital, sambhar, and nilgai.
Current status:
- The project began on September 17, 2022, when the Prime Minister released a group of cheetahs from Namibia into an enclosure at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.
- Twenty cheetahs were imported from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno in two batches – one in September 2022 and the second in February 2023.
- The report related to the program noted that the project has achieved four of these criteria – 50% survival of the introduced cheetahs, establishment of home ranges, birth of cubs in Kuno National Park, and direct revenue contributions to local communities through the engagement of cheetah trackers and indirect appreciation of land value in surrounding areas.
The seven big cats are mentioned below:
Tiger (Panthera Tigris)
- Tigers are listed as “Endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
- It is the national Animal of India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and South Korea.
Lion (Panthera Leo)
- In the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Lion is enlisted as “Vulnerable”.
Jaguar (Panthera Onca)
- In the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Jaguar is enlisted as “Near Threatened”.
Genus Acinonyx
- It is a unique genus within the cat family with only one living species which is the Cheetah.
- Cheetahs are listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Leopard (Panther Pardus)
- The leopard is similar in appearance to the jaguar. They are the most adaptable of all as they can survive in diverse habitats at all altitudes across Africa and Asia. Like Black Jaguars, melanistic leopards are called black panthers.
- Snow Leopards are listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia)
- It is a state animal of Ladakh and Himachal.
- In the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Snow Leopards are enlisted as “Vulnerable”.
Genus Puma
- The cougar is the second largest cat in America and the jaguar is the largest and has a range from the Canadian Yukon to the Southern Andes.
- It has the status of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
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