Cheetah Reintroduction Program : Cheetahs to be Flown from South Africa under Cheetah Reintroduction Program
India has launched a Cheetah Reintroduction Program, as announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The program aims to reintroduce the cheetah, an animal that has been extinct in India for decades, back into the country’s wild. As a part of this program, India is set to receive 12 cheetahs from South Africa.
The Cheetah Reintroduction Program is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Wildlife Trust of India, and the Wildlife Institute of India. The program will be carried out in three phases, with the first phase involving the introduction of cheetahs into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
The cheetah, which once roamed freely in India, was declared extinct in the country in the 1950s due to hunting and habitat loss. With the reintroduction program, the government aims to re-establish the cheetah’s population in India and promote biodiversity in the country.
According to reports, the cheetahs from South Africa are currently in the process of being acclimatized to Indian weather and habitat conditions in a special enclosure in Rajasthan. They are expected to be transported to Kuno National Park once they are ready.
The reintroduction of the cheetah into India is expected to have significant ecological and economic benefits. As a top predator, the cheetah can help maintain the balance of the ecosystem in the areas where they are reintroduced. Additionally, the reintroduction of the cheetah is expected to boost tourism in the areas where they are introduced.
Why This News is Important:
The Cheetah Reintroduction Program is an important step towards promoting biodiversity in India. The reintroduction of the cheetah, an animal that was once native to India, will help restore balance to the ecosystem in the areas where they are reintroduced. Additionally, the reintroduction of the cheetah is expected to have economic benefits, as it is likely to boost tourism in the areas where they are introduced.
Historical Context:
The cheetah, once widely distributed throughout India, was declared extinct in the country in the 1950s due to hunting and habitat loss. The last cheetah seen in India was shot by Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singhdeo of Surguja (Chhattisgarh) in 1947. In the past few decades, there have been several attempts to reintroduce the cheetah back into India. In 2009, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had recommended the reintroduction of cheetahs from Namibia to Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. However, the plan did not materialize due to various factors, including bureaucratic hurdles and concerns over the availability of prey for cheetahs.
5 Key Takeaways from “Cheetahs to be Flown from South Africa under Cheetah Reintroduction Program”:
| Serial Number | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1. | India has launched a Cheetah Reintroduction Program to reintroduce the cheetah back into the country’s wild after it was declared extinct in the 1950s due to hunting and habitat loss. |
| 2. | The Cheetah Reintroduction Program is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Wildlife Trust of India, and the Wildlife Institute of India. |
| 3. | The program will be carried out in three phases, with the first phase involving the introduction of cheetahs into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. |
| 4. | India is set to receive 12 cheetahs from South Africa as a part of the program, which are currently being acclimatized to Indian weather and habitat conditions in a special enclosure in Rajasthan. |
| 5. | The reintroduction of the cheetah into India is expected to have significant ecological and economic benefits, as it can help maintain the balance of the ecosystem in the areas where they are reintroduced and boost tourism in those areas. |
Important FAQs for Students from this News
Q. What is the Cheetah Reintroduction Program?
A. The Cheetah Reintroduction Program is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Wildlife Trust of India, and the Wildlife Institute of India to reintroduce cheetahs into the wild in India after their extinction in the 1950s.
Q. Where will the cheetahs be reintroduced?
A. The first phase of the program involves the reintroduction of cheetahs into Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Q. How many cheetahs will be reintroduced in India?
A. India is set to receive 12 cheetahs from South Africa as a part of the program.
Q. What are the benefits of reintroducing cheetahs in India?
A. The reintroduction of cheetahs can have significant ecological and economic benefits, as it can help maintain the balance of the ecosystem in the areas where they are reintroduced and boost tourism in those areas.
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