Description

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Context

India's ambitious Project Cheetah which reintroduced cheetahs to the subcontinent after 70 years of extinction is entering a new phase.

The Cheetah Project Steering Committee has approved the relocation of some cheetahs from Kuno National Park to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh with the goal of establishing a meta population across a larger landscape.

Background of Project Cheetah

Parameter	Details
Launched	2022
Coordinating Body	National Tiger Conservation Authority
Initial Translocation	8 cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa to Kuno National Park
Objective	Reintroduction of cheetahs into India after local extinction in 1952
Recent Setbacks	Deaths of 8 adults and 5 cubs so far due to various factors including stress, heat and infection

Cheetah Project Steering Committee

Constituted in May 2023 by the NTCA.

Functions

Monitor and evaluate the progress of Project Cheetah.

Advise on policy and scientific interventions.

Recommend habitat management and relocation strategies.

Rationale for Relocation

Factors	Insights
Overcrowding in Kuno	Current population: 26 cheetahs (17 wild, 9 in enclosures)
Mortality Concerns	High death toll raised concerns over habitat suitability and carrying capacity of Kuno
Meta-Population Goal	Long-term objective to establish 60–70 cheetahs across a connected landscape
Prey Base at Gandhi Sagar	Includes chinkara, chousingha, nilgai and chital

Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Feature	Kuno National Park (Kuno NP)	Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS)
Location	Sheopur and Morena districts, Madhya Pradesh	Mandsaur and Neemuch districts, Madhya Pradesh
Area	~748 sq km	~368.62 sq km
Establishment Year	Declared a National Park in 2018 (originally Wildlife Sanctuary in 1981)	Established as Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974
Ecological Zone	Semi-arid with dry deciduous forest	Dry deciduous forest, part of Vindhyan ranges
River System	Kuno River, a tributary of Chambal	Chambal River forms part of the boundary
Flagship Species	Asiatic lions (planned), Cheetahs (translocated from Namibia and South Africa)	Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Chinkara
Project Cheetah	Yes – Kuno is the main site for cheetah reintroduction	Identified as an alternate site for cheetah relocation
Biodiversity Significance	Rich in ungulates, predators, and avifauna	High density of herbivores and resident birds
Conservation Importance	Considered for Asiatic Lion relocation from Gir; center of India’s cheetah revival project	Important for landscape-level connectivity and species dispersal
Tourism and Human Impact	Human settlements relocated to expand core area	Fewer human settlements; less tourism pressure
Connectivity	Part of a larger forested landscape, potential for corridor with Ranthambhore NP	Near Gandhi Sagar Dam; ecological connectivity with Mukundara Hills
Recent Developments	Arrival of cheetahs under India’s rewilding efforts (since 2022)	Proposed as second site under Project Cheetah in case of Kuno overcapacity

About the Cheetah

Attribute	Details
Scientific Name	Acinonyx jubatus
IUCN Status	Vulnerable
Wildlife Protection Status (India)	Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
CITES Status	Appendix I (Highest protection from international trade)
Habitat Preference	Open grasslands, savannas, and scrub forests
Sexual Maturity	Females: 20–24 months Males: 24–30 months
Breeding Season	Year-round (peak during the rainy season)
Gestation Period	Approximately 90–95 days
Litter Size	Typically 3–5 cubs
Lifespan	10–12 years in the wild; longer in captivity
Top Speed	Up to 112 km/h (fastest land animal)
Unique Features	Non-retractable claws, tear marks on face for sun glare reduction

Benefits of Relocation

Ecological	Administrative	Scientific
Promotes gene flow between sub-populations	Reduces pressure on a single park	Opportunity to monitor adaptability across different habitats
Helps maintain balanced predator–prey dynamics	Allows better management of cheetah carrying capacity	Informs future conservation of other large carnivores

Concerns

Challenge	Explanation
Habitat Suitability	Gandhi Sagar must be equipped with adequate prey and low anthropogenic pressure
Monitoring and Health	Past deaths necessitate better health surveillance and acclimatization
Human-Wildlife Conflict	Risk of conflict due to proximity of human habitations
Relocation Stress	Cheetahs are sensitive to new environments, leading to possible adaptation issues

Way Forward

Strengthen Prey Base in Gandhi Sagar through habitat enrichment.

Install GPS tracking and surveillance for real-time health and movement monitoring.

Public Awareness Campaigns to involve local communities.

Scientific Evaluation of relocation outcomes to inform future decisions.

Long term Planning for creating a transboundary cheetah corridor across Rajasthan–MP landscape.

Sources:

INDIANEXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the rationale behind relocating cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. What challenges does India face in implementing Project Cheetah, and how can these be addressed through a landscape-based conservation approach? 250 Words.