Key highlights:
- This year marked the arrival of Namibian cheetahs to India, the first intercontinental transfer of wild cats into the country since independence. Cheetahs and tigers: to be the saga of big cats in India.
Eight Namibian cheetahs were relocated to the Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh, from Namibia on September 17 as part of an ambitious Cheetah reintroduction project.
Key Takeaway:
- A task force was established to implement the programme.
- Five female and three male cheetahs were flown into India under proper medical supervision.
- They are radio-collared and their movements are constantly tracked by a dedicated tracking team.
Reasons for Cheetah Relocation:
- India was home to Cheetahs earlier, however, they became extinct from India in the mid-twentieth century.
- The present population of cheetahs is 8000, which is confined to only Namibia and South Africa.
- Another species- Asiatic cheetah (which existed in India) is only found in Iran.
- In order to ensure their long-term survival young cheetahs are being reared in Namibia as part of conservation efforts and then sent to different parts of the world.
- Several experts have raised concerns that the KNP has limited space for the cheetah to co-exist with other predators like tigers and lions.
Status of Tiger in India:
- According to the latest survey, the tiger population stands at 2,967.
- It was observed that Tigers are increasing at a rate of around 6% per annum,but their habitat has remained stable, at around 89,000 square km since 2014.
- The tiger census is carried out with a sophisticated system involving camera traps and mathematical analysis. It should be noted that in 2006, the tiger population stood at 1,411 tigers. It increased to 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014 due to improved conservation efforts and new estimation methods.
- The proper implementation of Project Tiger (since 1973) and anti-poaching measures played a crucial role in the conservation of tigers.
- India has a total of 53 tiger reserves. But it is also observed that increased numbers have meant that around half the tigers are outside the protected zones resulting in increased instances of human-animal conflict.
The Seven Big Cats:
- Tiger (Panthera Tigris)
- Tigers are listed as “Endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
- The tiger is the largest of all wild cats and the most ancient of the Panthera.
- The tiger is primarily a forest animal that can be found from the Siberian taiga to the Sunderban Delta.
- 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”.
- Lion is native to Africa and Asia. They live in groups called “Prides” and they usually prefer open forests.
- The lions are among the most recognized animal symbols, from Ashokan Pillars to the entrance of Buckingham palace.
- Jaguar (Panthera Onca)
- In the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Jaguar is enlisted as “Near Threatened”.
- jaguar is the largest cat in America and has the strongest bite. Melanistic (Black) jaguars are the most common ones and are often called Black Panthers.
- Cheetah(Genus Acinonyx)
- It is a unique genus within the cat family with only one living species which is Cheetah.
- Cheetahs are listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.A cheetah is the fastest land mammal and its grip helps it to accelerate faster than a
- sports car (0-100 km/hr in 3 sec.)
- Leopard (Panther Pardus)
- 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.
- Leopards are listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia)
- Snow leopards live above the snow line in Central and South Asia.
- Snow Leopards cannot roar and has the longest tail of all.
- It is a state animal of Ladakh and Himanchal.
- In the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Snow Leopards are enlisted as “Vulnerable”.
- Genus Puma
- Genus Puma is closely related to domestic cats and this genus has only one extant species which is known as Cougar.
- Cougar is the second largest cat in America and the jaguar is the largest and has a range from the Canadian Yukon to southern Andes.
- It has the status of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
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.
- Associated Risks of translocation.
- Genetic Diversity:
- Difficult to find genetically suitable animals, particularly to build a new population. This can lead to inbreeding and depression in the new population of Cheetahs.
- Habitat and Prey Base:
- Before translocation, the factor responsible for the extinction of the special must be dealt with to secure the habitat in the wild. As per the experts, physical security, enough space, and ample food must be the priorities.
- Landscape Viability:
- Animals (in this case, Cheetahs, as they are relocated) will remain susceptible to demographic and environmental events in such a broken landscape as it can lead to habitat fragmentation.
More about Cheetahs:
- About:
- The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran.
- It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at 80 to 128 km/h.
- There are four recorded subspecies of Cheetahs.
- Threats:
- The cheetah is threatened by several factors such as habitat loss, conflict with humans, poaching and high susceptibility to diseases.
- Unique social life:
- Male cheetahs form alliances with their brothers or other males to protect common territory and unite to take down larger prey.
- The female normally raises her cubs alone, sheltering them in caves during the day and teaching them her hunting skills as they mature.
- They are “crepuscular” hunters, which implies they hunt at sunrise and sunset.
Way Forward:
- Post-Release Monitoring:
- There needs to be a proper strategy of monitoring with veterinary supervision and scientific evaluation of extent of adaptation.
- Tracking teams must be organized:
- Keep an eye on the cheetahs and other carnivores released into the wild.
- Awareness Campaign:
- To spread awareness among local people and sensitize the youth, various outreach & awareness programs should be conducted to familiarize the locals with the reintroduction plan.
- Priority List Management:
- There should be a proper mechanism to formulate the priority list for evaluation and implementation of policies for conserving different wildlife animals.Equal attention should be given to safeguard native species and their habitat.
- Proper Rehabilitation Mechanism:
- There is need to devise proper rehabilitation policy including a proper communication between administrative officers and locals to ensure their safety and satisfaction.
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu