Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
Recently, Kuno National Park released the “Four Years of Cheetahs in India – A Status Review”, covering the period from September 17, 2022 to September 17, 2026.
- Population Numbers and Locations
- Total cheetah population as of September 2026 – 52 individuals.
- India-born individuals – 32 cubs and juveniles.
- Distribution
- Kuno National Park (Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh) – 49 cheetahs.
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) – 3 cheetahs.
- Release status in Kuno – Of the 49 cheetahs, 17 are free-ranging in the wild, while 32 remain in soft-release bomas, including 19 cubs under one year of age.
- Source Countries – Founder stock includes cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa, with recent additions from Botswana.
- Key Translocation Batches
- September 2022 – First translocation from Namibia, marking the project launch.
- February 2023 – Twelve cheetahs from South Africa were introduced to Kuno National Park.
- Feb 2026 – 9 cheetahs from Botswana introduced to improve genetic diversity.
- Objective – To re-establish the cheetah population in India following local extinction and to restore grassland and open forest ecosystems.
- Global significance – This initiative is promoted as the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore.
- Current phase – The project is in a phase of consolidation and expansion, with emphasis on cub survival, metapopulation management, and identification of new release sites.
- Habitat Expansion – Protected habitat under integrated management encompasses approximately 3,428 square kilometers, including Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Identified future release sites
- Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (MP).
- Banni Grasslands (Gujarat).
Reference
DD News | India’s Cheetah Population
