After 70 years, cheetahs will be seen again in the country: Preparations complete to bring 8 cheetahs in MP’s Kuno; Now awaiting the approval of the South African President

After 70 years, cheetahs will be seen again in Madhya Pradesh. There are preparations to bring 8 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa in the Kuno National Park of Sheopur. It is discussed that cheetahs will reach Kuno by August 15, preparations have also been done accordingly. Although the date has not been announced officially. It is the effort of the central government that in the first phase, 4 male and 4 female cheetahs should be shifted here. Qatar Airways has agreed to bring these cheetahs to India. Although it is not yet decided how they will be brought to Kuno after landing in Delhi. However, forest department officials are telling that they will be transported from Delhi to Gwalior and from here to Kuno by road through cargo ship.

Officials say that 50 to 60 cheetahs can be seen running here in the next 6 years. He will come to India with cheetahs the very next day after the MoU between India and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. At present, two central government officials are on a stay in South Africa.

The professor who is looking after the cheetahs said – the file is with the President

At the University of Pretoria, South Africa, Prof. Cheetahs will be brought to India under the supervision of Adrian Trodiff. Pro. Trodiff has been studying cheetahs in South Africa for nearly two decades. He has also worked closely on 8 cheetahs brought to India from there. He himself will also come to India with a batch of South African cheetahs to work for this project. Professor Adrian Trodiff told Dainik Bhaskar that the MoU has been signed between Namibia and the Government of India. MoU with South Africa is yet to be done. Its file is currently with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, the first consignment of cheetahs will leave for India only after getting the approval of the President. Whose preparation has been completed.

Know how to bring cheetahs from Namibia to Kuno Park?

According to government sources, preparations are being made to bring cheetahs from Namibia to Johannesburg by air on August 12. It will take about 2 hours 10 minutes. It can be brought from Johannesburg to Delhi on the same day, which will take about 14 hours. Delhi to Gwalior will bring them by charter plane. From here to Kuno will be taken by road. That is, cheetahs are expected to reach Kuno Park by August 13-14. After arrival from Namibia, the cheetahs will be kept in quarantine for 30 days. After this, they will be gradually shifted to larger enclosures. Later it will also be released in the open. They will be closely monitored for six to eight months. According to forest department sources, the project is going on for a long time to bring the cheetah back to the country. In 2019, the Supreme Court gave its approval to the National Tiger Conservation Authority. African cheetahs are being brought to the forests of India for experimentation. The project has gained momentum again in the last few months.

The then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh took the initiative

The initiative to bring cheetahs to India was initiated in 2010 by the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. After a decade, the case took a big turn. For the first time on January 28, 2020, the Supreme Court allowed the cheetahs to be brought to India. Also, the Court had ordered the National Tiger Conservation Authority to find suitable sites for the cheetahs. After considering many national parks, experts chose Kuno Palpur National Park in Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh for the return of the fastest animal on earth.

Nauradehi sanctuary was also considered favorable

Apart from Kuno, the Nauradehi Sanctuary, spread over 1200 km, was also considered favorable for cheetahs, but Kuno was considered more favorable. According to the Forest Department, there are 63 villages within the Nauradehi Park (1186.961 sq km). Of these, 13 villages have been displaced, while there is only one village in Kuno Park (748.61 sq km). The process of its replacement is underway. The Gandhi Sagar-Chittorgarh-Bhainsrodgarh sanctuary was also surveyed for cheetahs in Rajasthan. Kuno was also chosen to bring the lion from Gir earlier.

Africa’s expert saw how the big cat will behave here

A senior ministry official said that an expert team from South Africa had visited the Kuno National Park on June 15, 2022. He observed how the big cat species behaved in the ecosystem of India. How do they adjust to the climate? The first batch of cheetahs will be brought only after the approval of this team.

Two years ago India’s experts went to Namibia

According to ministry sources, the technical team has been inspected to bring the cheetahs. Cheetahs have been declared extinct in India 70 years ago. The practice of bringing them from Africa is decades old. But from last year this work has been expedited. After a delay of more than two years, the exercise to bring back the cheetahs has been resumed in February this year. It included one official each from Central Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Tiger Conservation Authority- NTCA, Wildlife Institute. Apart from this, officials of Dehradun Wildlife Institute, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department also visited Namibia.

Cheetah is a timid animal, local people are not in danger

Experts say that the cheetah is a timid animal, which has never injured or killed any human in the history of wildlife. The cheetahs are therefore not a threat to the local people, but the local people will benefit from the many livelihood and wildlife tourism opportunities that emerge after the introduction of the cheetah to Kuno.