Can the cheetahs help India’s grasslands?

• India has embarked on a conservation plan to reintroduce the cheetah into the country, with the aim of establishing a self-sustaining population at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.
• The initiative has translocated eight African cheetahs from Namibia and 12 from South Africa since September 2022.

Cheetahs

• Appearance: Cheetahs have a distinctive appearance, with a slender, muscular body, long legs, and a spotted coat.
• They have black tear marks on their faces that help to protect their eyes from the sun’s glare.
• Speed: Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour in short bursts.
• Diet: Cheetahs are obligate carnivores and typically hunt during the day.
• IUCN Conservation status:Vulnerable
• Reproduction: Cheetahs have a relatively low genetic diversity, which makes them more vulnerable to disease and other threats.

The impact of cheetahs on India’s grasslands

• Regulate herbivore populations: Cheetahs are predators that primarily hunt herbivores such as antelopes, gazelles, and other small to medium-sized ungulates.
• By preying on these herbivores, cheetahs can help regulate their populations, preventing them from overgrazing and causing damage to the grasslands.
• Increase biodiversity: The presence of cheetahs in the grasslands is expected to increase biodiversity by creating a more balanced ecosystem.
• Promote grassland health: By regulating herbivore populations, cheetahs can help maintain the health of the grasslands, ensuring that they continue to provide important ecosystem services.
• Ecotourism: The presence of cheetahs in India’s grasslands could also boost ecotourism in the region, providing economic benefits to local communities.
• Challenges: Potential challenges associated with the reintroduction of cheetahs to India’s grasslands, such as competition with other predators and potential conflicts with human activities.

Opinion on cheeath reintoduction

• Reintroduction programme can improve India’s grasslands: Cheetahs indicate the overall wellness of open areas, meadows, and grasslands because they need these habitats to survive.
• The health of the cheetah population can, therefore, be an indicator of the health of the grasslands.
• Opinion in contrast: Some expert disagrees and argues that restoring open natural ecosystems, including grasslands, should begin by addressing the problems that led to their degradation and decline.
• The arrival of the cheetahs will not save India’s grasslands, and there are already issues, such as large tracts of open natural ecosystems being categorised as wasteland and granted to renewable energy projects, including solar panels.

The success of the translocation exercise

• According to the experts it took two and a half to three years for tigers to acclimate to Indian conditions in Sariska.
• In cheetah project, they expect it to take longer since cheetahs are coursers that require large tracts of terrain.
• While others believes that a clear picture of success will emerge when the animals not only survive but start reproducing, leading to a self-sustaining population.

Conclusion

• The reintroduction of cheetahs to India can help establish a self-sustaining population and contribute to the global survival of the species.
• However, it remains to be seen if they can successfully acclimate to Indian conditions and if they will have a significant impact on India’s grasslands.
• Nevertheless, the initiative highlights the importance of conservation efforts and the need to address the root causes of environmental degradation.