Although Cheetah was originally expected to be reintroduced to the country in November 2021, Madhya Pradesh, the plan was derailed by the pandemic.
The central government announced Wednesday that 50 of these large cats will be brought back to India under an action plan. This is after the cheetah became extinct in 1952.
At the 19th meeting NTCA, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yodav presented the action plan, saying: The Cheetah that went extinct in independent India is all set to return. According to an NTCA official, the COVID-19 had put off the reintroduction of the cheetah.
According to the action plan, a group of approximately 10-12 young cheetahs suitable for reintroduction will be imported from Namibia or South Africa during the first year.
A group of wild males will be chosen, and the females selected shall also be known each other as much as possible.
The country will inspect the animals’ lineage and condition to make sure they are not from an inbred stock.
Kuno Palpur National Park in Madhya Pradesh, one of the 10 sites surveyed in five central Indian States was rated high in the priority list for the introduction of the cheetah due to its habitat and prey base. The plan calls for the creation of a formal framework by the central government and the ministry of environment, and the Cheetah Task Force to collaborate with the governments of South Africa and Namibia through the Ministry of External Affairs.
The world’s fastest land animal, Cheetah was to be reintroduced to the country in November 2021 in Madhya Pradesh. However, the plan was thwarted by the pandemic, an official stated.
In his address at the meeting Mr. Yadav stated the Prime Minister is keen for the conservation and protection of seven major big cats, including Cheetah.
The union minister also released a Water Atlas Wednesday that maps all Indian water bodies.
The atlas includes information about the presence of such bodies in various areas, including the Shivalik Hills, Gangetic plain landscape, Central Indian Landscape, Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats Landscape, North Eastern Hills, Brahmaputra flood plains, and Sundarbans.
The atlas was created using remote-sensing data as well as Geographic Information System (GIS), mapping.
The minister stated that the baseline information will be used by forest managers to plan future conservation strategies.
Mr. Yadav also stated the endangered status of the tiger. He said that it is crucial that we have a reliable estimate on the number of tigers at Tiger Reserve Level and Landscape Level in order to manage them effectively. Minister said that the 5th cycle of All India Tiger Estimation, currently underway, will assist in making correct policy decisions.
We have 51 Tiger Reserves throughout the country and we are working to bring more areas into the Tiger Reserve network, he stated.
Minister said that the tiger reserve was not only for tigers, as more than 35 rivers originate in these areas, which are vital for water security.
Minister said that efforts are ongoing to involve local communities in protecting tigers’ reserves and ecotourism.
The minister stated that 14 tiger reserves have been approved under CA|TS, and NTCA is working on getting other reserves evaluated for CA|TS accreditation, the minister said.
He indicated that six committees will be created to visit the reserves in order to help formulate better policies.
Concerning poaching, the minister stated that the north eastern states have an air gun problem and that the ministry has advised states and union territories to hold awareness programs so that people can surrender their guns.