The Cheetah Action Plan (CAP) in India: Challenges and Prospects

Project Cheetah:
• The CAP aims to introduce African cheetahs into India’s ecosystems to conserve threatened species and restore ecosystem functions.
• The CAP aims to assist Iran and the international conservation community in conserving the Asiatic cheetah and increasing its distribution range.
• The cheetahs are expected to be a flagship species for degraded dry-open forest/savanna ecosystems in India and improve local communities through eco-tourism.
• The release population is estimated to reach the carrying capacity of Kuno National Park in 15 years and the wider Kuno landscape in 30-40 years.

Case Studies:
• The CAP’s radio-collared male coalitions were to be released first from their holding enclosures after a period of one to two months.
• The quarantine period in Kuno for all the cheetahs was longer than specified, leading to prolonged captivity.
• The 12 adult cheetahs and the 12 cubs currently in Kuno are unfit to be released into the wild, as per Namibian policy.

Case Studies:
• Many cheetahs died after moving, including one female from Namibia, a male from South Africa, and a female from South Africa.
• In May 2023, three of the four cubs born to Jwala were found dead due to heat stroke.
• In January 2024, a male from Namibia died in captivity due to septicaemia.
• Two of the cubs born in a litter of six died in June and August 2024, with one cub’s spine broken.

Project Cheetah in India: A Study of Potential Sites

• The CAP surveyed 10 sites in five central Indian States for introducing African cheetahs. Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh was identified as the most suitable due to its habitat and prey base.
• Cheetahs are largely held captive in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, with plans to introduce them in late 2024 or early 2025.
• A captive breeding facility is being built in Banni grasslands of Kachchh, Gujarat.
• The Wildlife Institute of India provides technical inputs, while the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department handles field implementation.
• The CAP outlines short-term and long-term success criteria for cheetahs, with short-term goals including a 50% survival rate for the first year, successful wild reproduction, and eco-tourism revenue.
• Long-term success is measured by cheetahs becoming a stable part of the ecosystem, improving habitat quality and prey diversity, and benefiting local economies through sustainable conservation efforts.
• The project’s timelines stretch across a minimum of 15 years, but the question remains: does India have sufficient habitat to establish a viable population of free-ranging cheetahs in the wild?